by Peter Young
BELIZE CITY, Wed. July 5, 2023
Hello out there, my cricket enthusiasts! Hope you all enjoyed Saturday’s game. Sunday would have been very exciting too, but nature stepped in and said, “GO HOME AND ENJOY YOUR SUNDAY DINNER!”
Under the auspices of the Belize National Cricket Association, the Barry Bowen / Harrison Parks Cricket Competition 2023 playoffs continue. Because of the inclement weather, only one game was played on Saturday, and that was between Brave 11 Reloaded vs Brave Union Boys at Landing. As for the ending results, Brave Union Boys had to say, “That’s it for us in this season, folks.” This happened because the team was defeated by Brave 11 Reloaded in a very hotly contested match.
Before the game started, I thought that this was going to be an exciting one, and so it was. I will just refresh your memory of the playing format for the playoffs. These two teams came in 3rd and 4th in the regular competition so they are matched to play against each other. The loser will say Ta Ta and go pick mangoes. The winner goes on to the semifinals. The winner will play the loser from the match between Tropical Disturbance and St. Paul’s Strikers. The loser there then gets 3rd place, and the winner goes on to the finals. This article will get you closer to that.
On Saturday, the day was so beautiful for our game! Spectators, fans and supporters started gathering early to watch an exciting match, and yes, COMPETITIVE!
Crowd settled in time for the toss to spin. Brave 11 Reloaded won the toss and took to bat first. With the ball in the hands of Jahlen Thompson and Caryl Rodas, who took 3 wickets each, the score cards looked like this in runs per wicket: 1 for 10; 2 for 21; 3 for 21; 4 for 21; 5 for 24; 6 for 36; 7 for 42; 8 for 59; 9 for 66; and all for 77. From this score, 16 runs were freely awarded by way of Wide Ball, No Ball or Leg Bye. WILWARD HUMPHREYS scored 18 runs for the Reloaded boys.
I must say that for a playoff match this score is quite small. Your bowling got to be very good to defend this score. As I continue, we will know what kind of bowling Dirk Sutherland and his team could put up. I must mention through this medium that Dirk and his team played excellent last year. This year even better. But he has very qualified teammates, and all are pushing for betterment for all. I wish him best of luck in upcoming matches.
Brave Union Boys went to bat now, trying in any way possible to win. RUSHANE FLOWERS took the ball and placed plenty pressure on the batsmen, so that at the fall of the last wicket Brave Union Boys fell short, scoring 45 runs. Well off the mark. Rushane took 5 wickets. He was even named Man of The Match. Conway Jones scored 16 for the Union boys. Wickets fell in this order: 1 for 0; 2 for 0; 3 for 4; 4 for 6; 5 for 21; 6 for 21; 7 for 21; 8 for 43; 9 for 45; all for 45. Of this 45, 10 was freely awarded as extra for Wide, No Ball and/or Leg Bye.
That ended a well-played match between the two teams. To my assumption, bowling was very excellent on both sides. The batting was questionable in respect to performance. And that ended Brave Union Boys’ vie for the top spot.
The following matches are scheduled for this weekend if weather permits:
On Saturday – WICKED 11 vs BDF at FLOWERS BANK in first of the best-of-three games.
On Sunday – TROPICAL DISTURBANCE vs ST. PAUL’S STRIKERS at LANDING.
Come out, folks, and enjoy a fun-filled cricket weekend at Flowers Bank and Landing! Come out also and show support and LOVE.
Bye Bye, folks! Will be looking to see YOU! Respect!