Cornwall: I was ‘under pressure’ to perform

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Former national and Leeward Islands player, Wilden “Polo” Cornwall, said he anticipated being named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the just ended Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion.
Cornwall, who bagged a total of six wickets for 41 runs and amassed 130 runs with a top score of 75 for Liberta Blackhawks, was adjudged MVP ahead of Bethesda’s Tonito Willett with 260 runs and a top knock of 120 not out.
Cornwall said he was “under pressure” to perform.
“I was really cued up for this tournament and I know a lot of the guys who came to watch practice in Liberta were stalking me for this tournament because at one point in time I was left out of their team, jokingly, and they put the pressure on me so I had to do well. I really had to prove myself and do something for Liberta,” he said.
Blackhawks defeated All Saints Pythons by three wickets in Sunday’s finals to lift a third consecutive title, taking the $20,000 cash prize up for grabs.
Cornwall has hailed the competition a game changer for cricket in Antigua.
“I think it’s a good initiative and that it has created a big impact in Antigua cricket and I am so happy to see a lot of spectators come out and watch the games. It’s a way forward and I am really impressed with the tournament,” he said.
The all-rounder also commended his nephew and West Indies A player, Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall, for his leadership during the tournament.
“Personally, I think Jimbo did a really good job leading the team. I have to commend him and commend the guys who really stuck with him. Some of the decisions that he made, he really was on par with [them]; he was on point,” Cornwall said.
Liberta Blackhawks’ Kadeem Phillip copped the award for most wickets in the tournament, bagging a total of 12 for 96 in 22 overs. Empire’s Kenrick Scott was awarded for taking the tournament’s first hattrick, claiming three wickets for five runs in Sunday’s third place match against Bethesda.
Also, Gavin Williams of Bolans had the most catches in the tournament with seven, while Bethesda’s Willett had the highest individual score of 120 not out and the most runs with a total of 260.

Liberta Blackhawks’ Wilden “Polo” Cornwall (left) accepts his winnings from a representative of Townhouse Mega Store after being named MVP of the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion. (photo courtesy Cool & Smooth)

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