First Division cricket takes weekend spotlight

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association could find itself having to fork out additional monies at its awards ceremony to reward the top performers in this year’s national competitions.

Last weekend saw another century being scored and five bowlers bagging five or more wickets in an innings.{{more}}

Recording the fifth century in this year’s competition and the third in the Bottlers First Division was Selwyn Caine. His innings of 121, which included 16 fours and 3 sixes, was the mainstay of Belmont’s total of 215 against Radcliffe Two at Stubbs.

Bowling for Radcliffe, Verbert King took 4 for 24 and Jeffrey Pierre 3 for 38.

Radcliffe made 116 in response, hemmed in by the bowling of Jerome Samuel 4 for 13, Mikel Bradshaw 2 for 17 and Vernando Primus 2 for 18. Analdo Fisher topscored for Radcliffe with 40.

Asked to follow on, Radcliffe were dismissed, this time failing to reach triple figures, bowled out for 87. Only Michael St. Hillaire with 32 stood in the way of the bowling of Adolphus Campbell who snared 3 for 17 and Lex Bute 3 for 25 as Belmont romped home to an innings and 12 runs triumph.

But it was a closer encounter at the Grammar School Playing Field between Unique Warriors and Smashers.

Unique Warriors did not make full use of the relatively small field, and only reached 232, despite some poor out cricket by Smashers.

Hollis James 36 and Ashkelon Henry 34 were Warriors top contributors with the bat, as Courtney Joyette 3 for 29, Darren Russell 3 for 58 and Marvin Harry 2 for 39 shared the bowling spotlight for Smashers.

They however fell short in their reply reaching 175, led by Rawdon Bentick with 39.

Samuel Byam took 3 for 24 and Henry 2 for 29.

Unique Warriors were mesmerized by the bowling of Kesroy Lewis who recorded bowling figures of 8 for 70, as Unique Warriors made 172 in their second innings.

Requiring 205 for a come from behind victory, Smashers fell 29 runs short, dismissed for 175 as Byam rounded them up with 5 for 58 and match analysis of 8 for 92, and Warriors maximum 16 points.

The other First Division fixture brought together Log Masters and Irie Travel Packers at the Brighton Playing Field , with the former taking first innings points.

Log Masters with their second consecutive score in excess of 300, made 308. Aaron Bascombe 94, Junior Bacchus 39 and Lynton Greaves 35 not out were the main batsmen to contribute to their total.

Mc Neil Morgan continuing his good allround performance this year took 3 for 45, Ronneil Jeffrey 2 for 32 and Kesrick Williams 2 for 35 bowling for Packers, who got as far as 145. Morgan led his team’s with 39 not out and Ancil Hooper 34, as the evergreen Montgomery Sealey took 6 for 60 and Bradley Brooker 2 for 26.

Enforcing the follow on, Log Masters’ bowlers could not rekindle their first innings form, as Packers held on for a draw, reaching 164 for 8, with Morgan making 67. Elvis Browne took 3 for 43.

The lone match in the RBBT Premier Division at the Sion Hill Playing Field was a bottom of the table clash between Eat Rite Saints and Franco Construction St. David’s.

After suffering an innings defeat the previous weekend, St. David’s bounced back to take first innings over their opponents.

Eldon Lewis topscored in St. David’s innings of 128. Roger Gibson 4 for 38 and Walford Ambris 3 for 17 were Saints’ most successful bowlers.

Saints’ batsmen did injustice to their bowling attack, as they faltered at 100.

The wickets were shared evenly between Ronnique Laborde 5 for 26 and Lon Mc Allister 5 for 49.

Pushing for an outright win St. David’s went in the hunt for quick runs and declared their second innings at 230 for 5, with T’ shorn Lavia making 75, Eldon Lewis 69 and Sheldon Hooper 42. Sunil Ambris with 3 for 36 was Saints’ most successful bowler.

With a daunting 259 required for victory, Saints played cautiously and were 95 for 3, when the match ended.Mc Allister was responsible for two of these wickets for 26 runs.

Four First Division matches are set for this weekend.

Belmont play Unique Warriors at Grammar School; Radcliffe Two meet Packers at Buccament; Smashers play Saints at Brighton and Log Master face Victors Two at North Union.