By Neto Baptiste
Any hopes Jennings Tigers harboured of advancing to the semifinals of the Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion were crushed by the Bethesda Golden Eagles on Tuesday when they beat the match favourites by five wickets in a low-scoring affair at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Needing a win to advance ahead of Bolans Blasters, Tigers had what was probable their worst showing of the tournament to finish on 15 points and sixth on the eight-team standings.
Winning the toss and opting to bat, Jennings Tigers failed to assert themselves with the bat and were bowled out for just 71 runs in their 20 overs. Their top score came from Glenton Williams who made 18. Veteran and player of the match, Anthony “I-roots” Martin, led the charge with the ball for Eagles with three wickets for 10 runs. Mekali Tonge picked up two wickets for 14 runs.
Eagles, who finished at the bottom of the standings with 10 points, then cruised to their target at 72 for five with their top score coming from Kevin Pitman who made 21. Winston Nelson picked up two wickets for 14 runs in four overs bowling for Tigers.
Earlier, Bolans Blasters stunned New Winthorpes Lions to win by 15 runs and improve their chances of advancing to the semifinals round of the tournament.
The win moves Blasters to fourth in the standings with 20 points and a guaranteed spot in the semis slated for Thursday.
Asked to bat after losing the toss, Bolans made 105 for 4 in their 20 overs with player of the match, Kerry Mentore, making 34.
Orlando Peters and Gavin Tonge each added 22.
New Winthorpes were then restricted to 90 for 9 in their 20 overs.
There were two wickets each for Taiem Tonge (2/14), Michael Harilall (2/7) and Morton Browne (2/12).
Coach of the Bolans team, Earl Waldron, said he was confident despite the low score.
“Our bowling is our strength and yes, we have gone for 200 twice this season but our bowling is our strength so we believe that we can defend whatever score we get and, as you realize, it was a difficult surface. It was obvious there was too much moisture for a type of game like that. The pitch was wet, the surface was sappy,” he said.
The results means Bolans will face defending champions Liberta Blackhawks in Thursday’s semifinals.
Waldron said they will approach the match with a positive attitude.
“We have to find a way to get over the line because as you know we’ve played two finals and we’ve also played a semifinal and lost before and as I’ve said to my guys that yes, it’s Blackhawks but if this is the time for Blackhawks to be beaten then this has to be the time. We cannot go into this game with any feat. We have to go in there with a positive attitude to win the game. There is no doubt about Liberta being the best club in Antigua and that’s not what I am discussing but I am saying here that in cricket, any team is beatable,” he said.
Liberta Blackhawks (30 pts), Empire Nation (20 pts), Pigotts Crushers (20 pts) and Bolans Blasters (20 pts) have all advanced to the semis where Bolans will face Blackhawks and Nation play Crushers on Thursday.