Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Rudolph Samuel bowls the ceremonial opening ball of the Pepsi Gatorade Twenty20 tournament at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
CUL DE SAC—Fast bowler Chamiqueko Landefort bowled a superb spell to grab five for 11 in four overs to set up an opening win for Future Champs in the first match of the Pepsi Gatorade Twenty20 tournament at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
Future Champs won the toss and decided to bowl against NAGICO United Cricket Club. That decision was prompted by dark rain clouds overhead and a damp pitch that made it impossible for fluent stroke play for the NAGICO batsmen.
Landefort, who is usually an accurate bowler again placed the balls in the right areas and were justly rewarded with the wickets. After left arm pacer, Nathan Edward grabbed the first two wickets with 10 runs on the board, the 16 year old, Landefort then collected his five wickets to trigger a gigantic collapse in the middle order. Iassie Gabriel (5) swung widely in frustration to edge behind, Romain Doodnauth (0) showed his rustiness when he played late to a pacy delivery that knocked back his middle stumps, Captain Colin Hamer (0) nicked a wide delivery behind, Lenny Boland (2) was trapped in front and Merwin Vallet (1) was also bowled. The first three wickets came in his third over and the last two wickets in his fourth over.
Garfield Solomon was the mere batsman in double figures with 15 off 34 balls (1x4). Solomon showed the other batsmen how to bat on a difficult pitch with his strong defence and watchfulness compared to the erratic shots of some the batsmen. NAGICO batted for 19 overs and hit only two fours and no six.
In reply, Future Champs overhauled the target with 10.4 overs to spare to register a nine-wicket win. For the winners, Michael Palmer led the way with 30 off 34 balls (3x4, 1x6) and Nathan Edward contributed 11 off 18 balls.
In the second match, General Auto Repairs Spartans posted a respectable 139 for seven in 20 overs to which Motorworld responded with 112 for eight. For Spartans, Sherwin Peters celebrated the birth of his first child with a smashing 52 off 35 balls (5x4, 2x6). The other batsmen in double figures were Michael Lewis with 23 off 27 balls (3x4), Dameon Williams with 18 off 17 balls (1x6) and Captain Kenroy David with 13 off 16 balls (1x6).
Motorworld had glimpses of a win when Captain Shameer Baux with 28 off 39 balls (3x4) and Melishus Theodule 26 off 20 balls (4x4, 1x6) brought the score to 50 in seven overs. However, both batsmen were back in the pavilion by the 13th over to out the fire that burnt momentarily.
Daryl Doram was the main wicket taker for the winners with four for 16 off four overs.
The opening ceremony was graced with the presence of Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, Rudolph Samuel, representative from the tournament sponsors Duty Free World N.V. and Cricket St. Maarten board members. Minister Samuel made brief remarks which included the need for a stadium for cricket while Duty Free World N.V representative Ridhi Kapoor encouraged the players to play to the best of their abilities and remember to keep hydrated through Pepsi and Gatorade.
The Pepsi Gatorade Twenty20 tournament continues on March 20 when Masters do battle against WINAIR Conquerors from 2:00pm and on March 21 when Sun Insurance Jaguars take on We Lounge Kaieteur from 10:00am and the Future Champs match skills with Spartans from 2:00pm.
