By Neto Baptiste
Defending champions Liberta Blackhawks suffered their first loss in the ongoing Cool & Smooth T20 Explosion when, on Wednesday, they were beaten by Jennings Tigers at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Playing in the first match of a triple-header at the North Sound venue, Tigers were led by Scottish player Ben Sexton who bagged four wickets for 17 runs in four overs to help bowl out Blackhawks for just 102 in 18 overs to guide his team to a five-wicket triumph.
Kofi James was best with the bat for Blackhawks with 32 runs. There were also three wickets each for Lachlan Bangs (3/13) and Glenton Williams (3/27) bowling for Tigers.
DAhri Francis then led the batting for Tigers with 27 from 18 balls while Matthew Miller, who hit the winning runs, was not out on 19 as they got to 106 for five in 18.1 overs.
Oliver Davidson claimed three wickets for eight runs in his four overs.
Coach of the winning team, Glen Miller, could not contain his excitement.
“The Liberta team is the best team in Antigua, the best structure in Antigua in terms of local cricket and we see Liberta as a model and we tell ourselves that if we want to be something, then we must get a win against Liberta. We celebrate by blowing horns, we rolled, we jump, we shout, we celebrate with our supporters and, as I said to one of the Liberta guys, this is our Super Bowl,” he said.
The win was Jennings’ third in five matches as they move to 15 points and second in the standings behind Blackhawks who have 20 points.
There was victory as well for Bolans Blasters who beat All Saints Pythons by 16 runs.
Batting first, Blasters raised 130 for six in 20 overs with Scotland men’s captain, Richie Berrington hitting 39 off 33 deliveries. Player of the match, Kerry Mentore, contributed with 28 runs from 20 balls. There were two wickets each for Matthew Forde and Demetri Lucas.
Pythons were then restricted to 114 for nine in their 20 overs. Morton Browne who bagged three for 10 and Michael Harilall who picked up three for 17, were the chief bowlers for Bolans. Mentore gabbed two for 33.
Former national player, Orlando Peters, is hoping for similar results in the team’s remaining two preliminary matches.
“After two heavy defeats, everybody sort of counted us out but we just have to keep going and hopefully we can win another game and see where that puts us. Teams will lose games, have good performances but teams get tired and injuries will all play a part so the next few rounds of games are going to be very important,” the veteran player said.
In Wednesday’s other fixture, New Winthorpes Lions handed Bethesda Golden Eagles their fourth loss in as many matches, beating them by nine wickets.
Batting first, Eagles were bowled out for 102 in 19.2 overs. Player of the match Michael Leask (2/15) and Ishmael Peters (2/28) were the pick of the bowlers for Lions.
Lions then reached 107 for one in just 10.2 overs with Leask hitting a top score of 47 and Michael Palmer making 36. Both players batted not out. Lions are now on 10 points and sixth in the standings while Eagles are at the bottom of the standings without a point.
