By Neto Baptiste
Empire Nation were the biggest winners in the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) 10 Splash Tournament on Sunday, crushing Freetown by 10 wickets when they met in the feature match of a triple-header at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Winning the toss and opting to bat at the North Sound venue, Freetown made 70 for six in their allotment of 10 overs. Rolston Phillip top-scored with 16 runs from 18 balls while Austin Richards Jr chipped in with 12 from nine deliveries.
Bowling for Empire, there was one wicket each for Justin Athanaze, Rasheed Henry, Micah McKenzie, Jahvaughn James and Ajahrie Joseph.
The Gray’s Farm men then reached their target at 74 without loss and with two overs to spare. Damian Lowenfield led the way with 49 not out from 31 deliveries. His knock included two sixes and six fours. Tyrone Williams Jr contributed with 25 not out.
There was a comfortable victory as well for Bethesda Golden Eagles who enjoyed a nine-wicket triumph over Combined Schools in the day’s opening contest.
Asked to bat, Schools were restricted to just 38 runs in their allotment of 10 overs. Yanique Watley was the only batter into double figures with 14 runs. Chad Walsh was the pick of the bowlers for the winners with two wickets for five runs from one over.
Golden Eagles, when their turn at the crease arrived, raced to 42 for one in just 6.1 overs for victory. Anthony Martin was best with the bat for the Eagles, hitting one six and three fours on his way to 24 from 17 deliveries. Isaiah Attwood picked up the lone wicket for Schools, giving up four runs in the process.
In Sunday’s other match, All Saints Pythons defeated Jennings Tigers by eight wickets in a close contest.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Tigers raised 77 for four in their 10 overs. D’Ahri Francis top-scored with 32 runs which included two sixes and three fours. Elijah Peters chipped in with 21 runs. Conroy Semple was the pick of the bowlers for Pythons with two wickets for 13 runs in two overs.
Michael Haynes-Dover then cracked 39 from 33 deliveries as Pythons reached their target at 79 for two with just three balls to spare. Demetri Lucas chipped in with 28 not out from 13 balls. Paul Miller bagged two wickets for seven runs in two overs bowling for Jennings.