By Neto Baptiste
Experienced all-rounder, Kadeem Phillip, has sounded a warning to rivals that his dominant Liberta Blackhawks will be aiming to complete the treble by lifting the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion currently held by the Empire Nation team.
His warning comes after Blackhawks added the Super40 limited overs title to their trophy case on Sunday, after they having lifted the Two Day trophy in March.
“It’s not just about the treble, it’s something that we as a group take personally; we take white ball cricket, as a team, very personal. When it comes to the white ball part of the cricket we don’t play around and that is something we are very serious about. We lost the Cool & Smooth final last year and it’s still a sour taste in our mouths all now so as I’ve been saying all season, the rest of the teams need to look out because it’s not going to be a joke,” he said.
As for his future, Phillip who was named player of the match in Sunday’s final against the New Winthorpes Lions, sees himself assuming a mentor’s role for a number of the club’s younger players.
“I am going to play until my knees hurt and I am going to be there for the youngsters because that’s my role right now. I am just there because as you know, we have First Class players and they will leave so that leaves us with, I wouldn’t say in-experienced youngsters anymore because they’ve played a big role in both the Two Day and the 40 overs competitions so it is just for me to continue to guide them along the way,” he said.
Phillip claimed five wickets for just 15 runs in eight overs to help remove New Winthorpes Lions for just 136 in 35.4 overs on Sunday. Phillip’s haul included the crucial wickets of Asher Murray-Cornelius for 29 and Nino Henry without score.
The Cool & Smooth T20 is set to bowl off in early July.
