CUL DE SAC—The Spartans marched into the final of the Masters sponsored Windward tournament with a comfortable 34-run win over GT Boyz on Sunday.
Led by some aggressive hitting from openers Akeem Charles and Daniel Doram, the winners posted 200 for three in 15 overs.
Those two batsmen took the score to 109 for the first wicket in just eight overs before Doram fell for 55 off 30 balls (7x6). With his departure, Charles was joined by Dameon Williams. Charles immediately went into overdrive with some massive and sustained hitting that left the fielding team stunned. He clobbered 83 off 36 balls (2x4, 10x6). Williams supported well with 28 off 10 balls (4x6). The other contributors were Captain Daryl Doram with 14 off seven balls (2x6) and Chris Le Blanc with six off seven balls (1x4).
The GT Boyz reached 166 for eight when the 15 overs were completed.
Anil Persaud gave the opposition much to worry about as it looked at one point, as if he could singlehandedly win the match, when he smashed 39 off Adrian Joseph’s one-and-only-over. The other batsmen did not stay around long enough to pose a threat nor support Persaud. Persaud top scored with 75 off only 29 balls (1x4, 10x6). His dismissal left no doubt that the Spartans will play in the final next week.
Romel Haynes with 37 off 26 balls (5x6) and Lionel Ritchie with 23 off nine balls (3x6) were the only other batsmen in double figures.
There were two wicket apiece for Jean Rene Belizar 1-0-10-2 and Daniel Doram 3-0-16-2.
In the women semi-final, Caribtrans Rising Stars defeated NAGICO Rockets by 23 runs.
Rising Stars had only seven players but compiled 122 for six with 16 balls to spare. Rockets reached 99 for five off 15 overs.
For Rising Stars, Wendy Jack blasted 47 off just 17 balls (3x4, 5x6) to propel her team to the winning total.
There were solid contributions from Linette Mc Farlane with 26 off 21 balls (4x4) and Captain Merlene Johnson with 16 off 15 balls (1x4, 1x6).
The best bowler for Rockets was Francine Etienne with two for 32 in three overs.
When Rockets reached 99 for five, the main scorer was Roshana Sampson with 15 off 16 balls (1x6).
Although Etienne with 13 off 14 balls (2x4) and her opening partner Irma Robin with 13 off 13 balls (2x4) looked threatening in the first five overs, the experience fielding team won in the end.
Faymar Barette was the game changer when she collected two wickets in one over to turn the match in her team’s favor.
Her bowling figures read 3-0-16-3.
The final will be played on March 22 with Spartans taking on 758A Boyz from 12:30pm and the Rising Stars will do battles against Conquerors from 3:00pm.
