International players grace Cumberland for official opening

Scores of Vincentians thronged the Cumberland Playing Field for the official opening of the facility on Sunday, and to see past regional and international cricketers on display.

Despite the threat of rain curtailing activities even before the toss of the coin for the big game, there was a steady stream of persons entering the field, and taking up vantage points on the roadside above.

The feature game for the official opening was between the Prime Minister’s XI and the Carlos James’ XI, which featured two players who were part of the West Indies team which won the 2012 and 2016 ICC World Twenty/20 Championship, in winning captain Darren Sammy and Andre Fletcher.

The Prime Minister’s XI won the toss and Prime Minister, as the non-playing captain, immediately made the decision to bat first, in a game reduced to 15 overs, due to a late start because of a constant drizzle.

Luke Browne and Gidron Pope opened the batting for the Prime Minister’s XI, with Kesrick Williams taking up the attack for the Carlos James’ XI.

The Prime Minister’s XI reached 87 in their 15 overs, with Darren Sammy hitting the advertising board high up on the pavilion with a six, depositing another ball into the Cumberland River for the fishes to play with, and sending Carlos James over the pavilion into a banana patch for another.

He then swept one-handed at James, only to be caught at short forward square leg for 22.

In their reply, Denis Byam hit some huge sixes to lead the Carlos James’ XI to victory. Sammy came in for a taste of his own medicine, with two sixes hit off him, and with five needed off the last over, a six formalized the result, with four balls to spare.

There was plenty of good-natured banter going around, with Luke Browne being the first target. He quieted all with a straight hit for four over mid-off, and found getting the ball off the square was much harder work.

Sammy had Kishore Shallow caught off his first ball sweeping, and then escorted fellow international Fletcher to the pavilion, pointing the way after the Grenadian was caught, hitting out. (Robertson S Henry)