RBTT Premier Division competition gets heated

Two centuries, both by Popes, three innings victories and six five wicket hauls were the highlights of last weekend’s national cricket competitions.

Spartans on the back of a century, 102, by former St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Windwards and West Indies Under-19 wicketkeeper Uzzah Pope reached 299 against newly promoted Police One.{{more}} Nixon Mc Lean 64 and his younger brother Kissinger 33 were the other contributors over 30.

Enkem Richards 5 for 68 and Malcovin Alexander 2 for 20 were Police’s chief wicket takers.

Only Joseph Bascombe’s 33 stood in the way of the bowling of Krishna Da Silva 5 for 20, Nixon Mc Lean 2 for 8 and Omalie Lavia 2 for 20, as Police surrendered at 98.

Batting a second time Police One were routed for 63. Kissinger Mc Lean 4 for15, Nixon Mc Lean 3 for 17 and Lavia 2 for 9, did the demolition job to give Spartans their first full points in this year’s RBTT Premier Division competition.

Another Pope, Harvey, slammed a pugnacious 145, the highest individual score for the 2007 season. His innings included 18 fours and 5 sixes, as he engineered Log Masters to 344 for 7 declared against Radcliffe Two. Urias King 44 and Junior Bacchus 36 helped administer the wrath. Michael St Hillaire 28 and Travis James 2 for 28 toiled in Radcliffe’s bowling vineyard, but their batsmen were unable to negotiate the bowling of Montgomery Sealey, like Indian Summer, bagged 4 for 5, Pope 2 for 18 and Dale Michael 2 for 27, orchestrated to dismiss Radcliffe for 65. Asked to follow on, Radcliffe again faltered, this time for 76, with St. Hillaire topscoring with 31 and Sealey with a handful 5 for 16, to give Log Masters victory by an innings and 203 runs.

The other innings win came in the RBTT Premier Division with Victors One inflicted an innings and 40 runs defeat on Franco St. David’s.

Victors totalled 294 in the only innings they batted. Miles Bascombe 64, Danson Andrews 55 and Keiron Cottoy 54 not out were the leading batsmen.

T’ Shorn Lavia 3 for 54, Dorson Cottle 3 for 57 and Orlando Charles 2 for 26 shared the bowling honours for St. David’s.

Victors then dismissed St. David’s for 167, with Cottoy bagging 6 for 45, and Hank Hall yet to realize the returns of the nation’s investments, took 2 for 26. Only the hard hitting Kenny Stapleton stood in Victors’ path as he slammed 71. Stapleton was again in the limelight as he registered 37 in his team’s total of 87. Cottoy crowning a fine all round performance took 5 for 15, to end with match analysis of 11 for 60 and Hall chipped in with 3 for 19 to subdue his fellow North Leeward villagers.

The other match played in the Bottlers First Division; Belmont won on first innings over Victors Two. Belmont batted first and managed 150. Angell Holder topped their batting with 61. Kevin Abraham 5 for 52 and Javed Harry 3 for 41 restricted Belmont. But at their turn, Victors Two fell short by five runs, dismissed for 145. Atticus Browne lashed 74, as Augustus Mofford took 3 for 9 and Jerome Samuel 2 for 13, to give Belmont the slender first innings lead. Samuel then scored 31 as Belmont posted 148 in their second innings. Harry was again among the wickets with 4 for 35 and Jeffery Abraham 2 for 46. Chasing 154 for victory, Victors Two were 74 for 7, when play ended. Samuel recorded figures of 4 for 10 and Michael Jack 3 for 23.

Action continues this weekend in both divisions. At Arnos Vale One in the RBTT premier Division Eat Rite Saints and Franco St. David’s meet.

At Sion Hill in the Bottlers First Division, Log Masters play Packers. Also in the First Division at Stubbs Belmont meet Radcliffe Two, while at Brighton Victors Two play Saints.

Completing the round up of matches, Smashers face Unique Warriors at the Grammar School Playing Field.