CUL DE SAC--Captain of the WINAIR Conquerors Cricket Club Lerry Baptiste hit a brilliant 85 off 83 balls to help his team crush the WIB Pioneers by 160 runs at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
The Conquerors, who were inserted by their opponents, posted a mammoth 297 all out in 47.3 overs of the allotted 50 overs. The Pioneers responded with a paltry 137 all out in 30.4 overs.
Along with Baptiste's inning, Keston Dornick smashed 34 off 17 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes), Nevisian Joel Simmons clobbered 63 off 38 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes) and Shem Pascal contributed a patient 33 off 78 balls (3 fours).
The Pioneers got their first breakthrough when the score was 49, when Raphael Baptiste was dismissed for 16. More success came to the fielding team when Kurt Manners mishit a long hop to mid wicket (56 for 2) and then Pascal was left stunned when Ashley Remy held on to a full blooded drive off his own bowling (88 for 3).
The Pioneers, whose bowlers bowled well in patches, got another reward with the score on 143 when Robinson Monlouis was caught at square leg. Nevertheless, Captain Baptiste was joined by Simmons and both batsmen played aggressively against a tiring attack. Baptiste stroked 10 fours and one six.
He and Simmons added 111 in quick time to help set up the huge target. And even after they were dismissed two runs apart, Dornick came to the crease and made sure the momentum stayed with Conquerors with some meaty blows.
For Pioneers, Otis Honore grabbed three for 37 in four overs, Ajay jiwanand three for 62 off 10 overs and Ashley Remy two for 32 in 3.3 overs. There was also one wicket apiece for Daston Williams one for 62 in six overs and Hensworth Thomas one for 18 in seven overs.
In reply, Pioneers lost wickets regularly as only three of the batsmen got into double figures. Dameon Beckford batted well for 55 off 78 balls in which he smashed six fours.
The other batsmen in double figures were Thomas (12) and Masimba Bowen of Anguilla (10).
Kelvin Baptiste was the best bowler with three for 25 in six overs but it was Romel Haynes two for 34 in eight overs and Dornick two for 44 in seven overs that rocked the Pioneers early in the response. Haynes had Alvin Prescod (9) and Bowen bowled, while Dornick removed Melishus Theodule for seven and Captain Kern Saunders for six.
The score was then 77 for four in 13th over. The losers were never able to recover with only Beckford showing an appetite for a long inning.
The loss puts Pioneers out of the tournament while Conquerors remained unbeaten after three rounds.
