By Neto Baptiste
Former champions, PIC Liberta Blackhawks, stormed into the finals of this year’s Two Day Cricket Championships over the weekend with a convincing innings and 94 runs victory over New Winthorpes Lions.
Playing at Ball Beef in one of two semifinal matches in the Antigua & Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) competition, Blackhawks made light work of their opponents and took full advantage of their home-crowd support.
Asked to field after New Winthorpes won the toss, the Blackhawks fans were treated by some outstanding bowling from Elvis Weaver who claimed seven wickets for just one run in 7.5 overs as New Winthorpes crumbled for 22 all out in their first innings. Six of Weaver’s overs were maidens. He was assisted by J. Robinson and Karima Gore who had two for 13 and one for six respectively.
In their first innings reply, Blackhawks amassed a lead of 204 after reaching 226 for six declared in 47 overs. There were half centuries from Uri Smith and Avier Christian who both made 50. Smith’s came in 55 balls, while Christian reached his half century in 72 deliveries.
Gore also contributed with the bat, hitting 41 from 49 deliveries, while Kofi James made 38 from 30 balls. O. Boston was the only bowler of note for New Winthorpes, picking up two wickets for 19 runs in five overs.
New Winthorpes’ struggles with the bat continued in their second innings as they were bundled out for 110 in 31.4 overs, 94 short of the runs required to make Blackhawks bat a second time. Robinson, who had four wickets for 12 runs and Gore, who picked up three for 24, did the damage for Blackhawks.
In the other semifinal clash, Pigotts Crushers beat State Insurance Corporation (SIC) Jennings by six runs in a close contest.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Crushers posted 182 all out in their first innings with M. Meade hitting 65 from 143 balls, J. Andrew contributing 40 from 86, and E. Francis Jr. adding 34 from 38 deliveries. Bowling for Jennings, J. Martin claimed five for 41 in 13.5 overs while G. Williams claimed three for 41 from 18 overs.
In their first innings reply, Jennings fell short at 136 all out with E. Peters hitting a top score of 51. Quinton Boatswain had a good spell for Crushers, snatching six wickets for 38 runs in 13 overs while T. Theophile bagged three for 10 in 6.1 overs.
In their second innings, Crushers reached 163 all out in 53 overs with Andrew hitting a top score of 56. Paul Miller was the pick of the bowlers for Jennings with four wickets for 39 runs in 15 overs.
Chasing 209 for victory, Jennings put up a fight but fell just short at 203 all out. Their effort was led by Peters and W. Nelson who made 47 and 40 runs respectively. J. Africa contributed with 32 runs.
Bowling for Crushers, Meade and Theophile each had three wickets in the winning effort.
The finals will be played on Saturday and Sunday in Pigotts.