Barbados and Jamaica Meet to Decide Fourth Semi-Finalist – T&T Red Force Seal First Place in Round Robin
– Jamaican win against Leewards put Windwards in Playoffs
The fourth semi-finalist in the West Indies Cricket Board’s CG Insurance Super50 Cup will be decided today (Sunday, Feb 21) when Barbados Pride (Won 1, Lost 3, NRR 0.579) and Jamaica Scorpions (Won 1, Lost 3, NRR -1.27) are due to take the field at Coolidge. Whichever team wins will advance to the semi-finals to join Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, Guyana Amazons and Windward Island Volcanoes.
On Friday (Feb 19) Jamaica Scorpions battled back from the depths of 135/9 with the bat to reach 220 all out and then with the ball after Nitish Kumar and captain Rovman Powell began to steer the Leeward Islands Hurricanes towards victory. There was no adjustment to the 50 overs afer an early rain delay just 2 overs into the Hurricanes innings. Adjustments to the available overs followed subsequent rain breaks and seem to add to the basic run challenge. Now some rash strokes came as welcome gifts to the Scorpions before and after any overs reduction. The Scorpions nded up winners by 6 runs under the DLS method. The Leeward Islands Hurricanes will play in next Friday’s game to decide 5th and 6th places.
Jamaica Scorpions victory ensured the Windward Islands Volcanoes, already with 2 wins, qualify for the semi-finals regardless of the outcome of Monday’s game between the Windward Islands Volcanoes and Guyana Amazons.
Nitish Kumar was going well but his run scoring seemed to slow after the third rain delay. By contrast. captain Devon Thomas confidence and scoring rate seemed to be on the rise. Nitish Kumar was caught for 51 playing a reverse sweep and departed at 136/4 (35.3 overs). Devon Thomas fell for 49 at 152/6 (38.1 ov). A simple ending would be to state the Hurricanes innings closed at 187/8 after 43 overs and, as previously mentioned, the Jamaica Scorpions were deemed the winners by 6 runs.
Trinidad and Tobago Red Force completed 5 round robin wins on Saturday with a 6 wicket win against Guyana Amazons. Leg-spinner Imran Khan took 5/32 from 9 overs as the Amazons tumbled after an opening partnership 106. Khary Pierre removed Tevin Imlach for 38 to end the opening stand, then caught Shimron Heymeyer (10) to give Imran Khan his first wicket. Chanderpaul Hemraj was then caught by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin off Imran Khan for 87 at 142 and the slide to 187 all out was underway.
This tournament is being played in Antigua, the country of Antigua and Barbuda and is part of the Leeward Islands so the groundstaff will have been trying to get the game back in action as soon as possible. Nitish Kumar had been batting and Rovman Powell began to look useful. But Nitish miscued a reverse sweep and was easily caught soon after reaching 50.
The closing overs included for reasons that seemed to make no sense a few deliberate looking wides – possibly hoping for snicks to the wicketkeeper rather than snicks to the boundary? Then, when all seemed lost for the Hurricanes Colin Archibald struck to consecutive sixes to deep mid- wicket. He was lucky as the first became a six as the fielder stood on the boundary rope when taking the catch. His next shot sailed high over the boundary. Archibald was caught for 18 (3x6s) with one ball remaining in the 42nd over. Then with two balls remaining and 12 runs needed by the Hurricanes came two rather wide wides to restore hope for the batting side. Terrence Ward could only manage 3 from the fifth ball and a dot ball ended the game.
Jamaica Scorpions Jeavor Royal was named player of the match for his 38* batting at number eleven and taking the wickets of two top order Hurricanes batsmen; Kieran Powell (17) and Keacy Carty (13). Carty batted at four but did not come close to a repeat of his unbeaten century that sealed victory for the Hurricanes win against Barbados Pride. In that game, Carty and Nitish Kumar added 98 for the third wicket before Nitish was out for 41. Carty went on to reach 123* as the Hurricanes broke the 300-run barrier, but Carty, a young prospect, only scored 44 runs in his other four knocks in this Super50. However, it must be admitted that there are some unusual challenges living and playing cricket in controlled bubbles, with few warm-up games and without spectators.
Eddie Norfolk Toronto,
Feb 21, 2021.