By Neto Baptiste
Police are champions of the Sir Richie Richardson Limited Overs Competition following a five-wicket win over rivals Freetown in the final of the ACB Caribbean-sponsored Parish League event held on Sunday.
Batting first at home, Freetown were bowled out for 115 in 32.3 overs with Vance Nathaniel not out on 25. Kief Baltimore contributed with 22 while Austin Richards Jr and Kelvin Myers both made 21.
Captain of the Police team Lynton Africa was the pick of the bowlers for the lawmen with four wickets for 10 runs. James Cornelius picked up his fourth hattrick of the competition, ending with three wickets for eight runs.
Africa said the initial aim was to bowl out the opponents for under 100 runs.
“I actually had to be out for under 100 because we had a plan and we stuck to that plan but unfortunately, the eighth wicked partnership took them over 100 but we had them at 77 for seven at one point,” he said.
When their turn at the crease arrived, Police reached their target at 116 for five in 28.5 overs. Jeron Jones had a top knock of 22 and Vincent Shadrach Jr contributed with 20 not out. Jarel Phillip was the top bowler for Freetown with four wickets for 23 runs while Amos Bruney bagged two for 39.
Africa said that a few changes in the bating line-up did the trick.
“We juggled the batting order accordingly just in the event we had a collapse and we just batted through the overs. I was battling a side strain but I had to dig deep because this one was important because Freetown was on a high horse so we had to dig deep. It was a bit special,” he said.
Police, on Saturday, beat Mahico by five wickets in the semifinals while Freetown had beaten Masters by 54 runs in their semifinal clash also on Saturday.
