Blackhawks And Empire Welcomes Newcomers To ABCA First Class

Newcomers to the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association’s (ABCA) first class competition, Pigotts Crushers and Rising Sun Spartans, were harshly welcomed to the league’s Two-Day tournament over the weekend.
Playing in Liberta, Pigotts Crushers fell to defending champions Liberta Blackhawks by 109 runs to open their campaign on a sour note.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Blackhawks, led by a knock of 140 not out by Karima Gore, reached 250 for five declared in 58 overs. Gore’s knock included 19 fours and two sixes. He was assisted by Kadeem Phillip who made 40.
Crushers, in their first innings reply, were bowled out for 160 in 51.2 overs with their best efforts coming from A Fane and D Thomas who made 25 and 22 runs respectively.
K James did the damage for Blackhawks, bagging six wickets for 42 runs in 18 overs.
The home team then returned in their second innings to post 130 for 5 declared with Karima hitting 53 not out and his father, Ian Gore, getting 18 not out.
Crushers were then bundled out for 111 in just 28.4 overs. Adrian Baron top-scored with 37 runs.
Meanwhile, Spartans had their first experience in the first class competition losing to the Empire Cricket Club by 10 wickets at King George V Ground.
Batting first, Spartans made 125 all out from 30 overs with Shaquan Hewlett hitting 40 and Hughan Tonge making 32. Bowling for Empire, Melvin Charles snatched six wickets for 18 runs.
Empire, in their first innings, reached 208 all out in 59.5 overs. They were led by Dion Samuel who made 78 not out. Rodney Williams, Richie Thomas, Craig Rainford and Deno Baker all bagged two wickets bowing for Spartans.
The newcomers, in their second innings, were bundled out for 88 in 30.5 overs.
Kenrick Scott and Trevonson Atley did the damage for Empire, picking up three for 18 and three for 11 respectively.
Needing only six runs to win in their second innings, Empire reached their target without loss.
In other matches played over the weekend, Caribbean Union Bank (CUB) Bethesda and MUI Combined Schools played
to a draw while Jennings
and Bolans also played to a draw.