By Samuel Peters
Jennings Tigers utterly humiliated their neighbours Bolans Blasters by an innings and 56 runs on the back of its ace player Glenton Williams, who picked up a match haul of 14 wickets for 22 runs and cracked a blazing 54 off 38 balls.
The match was played at a neutral venue in All Saints and saw the Tigers wasting little time to run rampant of the Bolans batters, bowling them out for 57/9 as they only played with 10 men. Williams bagged six for 17 runs in that innings and then returned to score quick runs opening the batting, smashing 54, D’ahri Francis 51 and Jedidiah Martin 40.
They declared with the score at 177 for four, batting only 20 overs. Bolans could only score a total of 60 runs in their second innings thanks to Derek Mourillon who made an unbeaten 37.
Yet again, it was the left arm spin of Williams that did the job this time collecting eight wickets for five runs from 11 overs.
Tigers remain second in the standings, tied with the Liberta Blackhawks on 70 points.
Liberta Blackhawks and Rising Sun Spartans provided much excitement in their encounter at the Rising Sun Grounds with the Blackhawks winning by six wickets.
The home side batted first and were bowled out for 110 with Kadeem Phillip and Rahkeem Cornwall picking up three wickets apiece.
When it was the visitors’ turn to bat, Shane Burton put on a spirited display of pace bowling, rattling the Blackhawks batsmen grabbing four for ten runs.
Owen Graham snapped up three for 25, while Kerry Mentore had two for 13, as the Blackhawks folded for 102 all out, just eight runs shy of the Spartans score with Michael Greaves top scoring with 44 runs.
The home side returned to the crease in the second innings and put 144 on the board with Melvin Charles, Tassilo Allen and Mentore top scoring with 38, 29 and 28, respectively. Phillip picked up four scalps while Cornwall had two. Set a target of 153 to win, the Blackhawks got off to a much better start compared to their first innings, as Tarek Charles blasted the Spartans bowlers to all parts of the ground in a commanding knock of 84 which included 11 fours and two sixes.
The win keeps Liberta in third position with Jennings Tigers on 70 points, six behind the Pigotts Crushers.
Leaders Pigotts Crushers played at home in their derby match against the New Winthorpes Lions and came out on top with another top performance from all-rounder Demari Benta. The Lions looked positive from the start putting on a 71 run first wicket partnership but it was the man with the golden arm, Demari who provided the breakthrough in the 16th over, removing Asher Cornelius to leave the Lions limping at 83 for 3 by the 20th over.
The ambidextrous spinner Kadeem Henry offered great support from the other end collecting three for 40 with the offspinning Benta taking six for 39. Bartlette Henry was the Lions topscorer with 37 runs as they were bundled out for 137.
In reply, the Crushers started shakily as the Lions bowlers were able to collect wickets regularly leaving them 79 for five before the older Benta came to the crease. The in-form Deran counter attacked accordingly, smashing 52 from 42 balls with six fours and three sixes in an innings that help his side to 191 all out. Lions captain Nino Henry was the pick of the bowlers with four for 48 while Ishmael Peters had three for 42. With a 54-run lead over the Lions, pacers Jawakie Joseph (4-23) and Tyree Moore (4-27) did not let the pressure ease off of the visitors one bit, as they combined to equally snare eight scalps between them leaving the Lions breathless at 24 for 8. Lions would be thankful for Omavi Matthew’s 26 who was subbed in the match for Shavon Moore, giving them a chance to avoid a two innings to one defeat as they made 66 all out. Set a mere 13 runs to win, Pigotts lost four wickets in two overs as wicketkeeper batsman Bartlette and Zavear Otto picked up two wickets apiece, as they completed their victory with the score 13 for 4. It means that there were no changes to the top three in the ABCA Two Day standings as Crushers remained in first position with 76 points.
Last year’s runner ups, the Empire Nation took advantage of the Combined Schools winning by eight wickets at the New Winthorpes Playing Field. Batting first, Schools could only put 82 on the board with George Elvin top-scoring with 27 as teenage leg spinning sensation Micah McKenzie collected four for 13.
The Nation responded with 139 all out, as Captain Kenrick Scott found some form scoring an important 68 while pacer Glen Williams had figures of four for 51 and Zanden Hobson three for four runs.
Jquan Athanaze who is the son of Justin Athanaze, top scored for the school side with 42 as they made 118 in their second innings setting Nation 62 runs to win.
Justin picked up four for 13 whereas McKenzie had four for 39. Promoted to the top of the order, Tyrone Williams Jr. commanded the chase with a dominant 36 from 44 balls as the men from the Grays Green Community made 64 for two to register their eight wicket victory.
The win places them in fourth position on 55 points with one round remaining.
All Saints Pythons played away to Bethesda Golden Eagles and were armed with West Indies Vice Captain Alzarri Joseph, who has not played local cricket for almost two seasons donned the Pythons Jersey as his side picked up a nine wicket victory.
Batting first, Bethesda made 111 all out as Tehrique Mason stroked 34 and Tahari Tonge made 24.
Kadeem Josiah and Justin Robinson collected four for 24 and three for 22 runs respectively.
Pythons then responded with a 125 for 7 declared, as Kadeem Josiah, Michael Dover and Sean Joseph had scores of 28, 21 and 21.
Mason grabbed his first five wicket haul of the season with figures of five for 28. The home side were then bundled out for 48 as Joseph and Emroy Lee made mockery of their batting line up leaving them 11 for five inside 11 overs.
Shacoy Floyd provided a resolute knock of 22 from 82 balls to save his side some embarrassment.
Lee had figures of six overs three maidens five runs and three wickets, whereas Joseph had seven overs five maidens six runs and two wickets.
All Saints got to the target with the score 40 for one.
The final round of matches will see teams fight for positions although the top three are guaranteed progression to the knockout stages.
Crushers will host Tigers, Lions will meet Spartans, Nation will face All Saints, Black Hawks take on Combined Schools and Bethesda will entertain Bolans at home.
The fourth place position will be in contention between Empire Nation who have 55 points, Lions 50, and the Spartans 48.