BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A number of former cricketers had most certainly awoken yesterday morning (Jul. 3) with sore bodies after participating in a CPL All-star Charity game at Warner Park the previous evening.
The Prime Minister’s XI was led by Attorney-General Senator oVincent Byron who, after winning the toss against Sir Vivian Richards’ XI, chose to bat and his side did not disappoint the spectators.
The first over set the tone for the evening as former England bowler Darren Gough appeared winded after he completed it and the spectators knew they were in for a comical treat.
West Indies female team batter Stefanie Taylor was the 'back bone' of the PM XI as she batted through the innings stroking 42 not out while wickets thumbled around her.
She was supported by West Indian batting great Brian Lara, who played some stylish shots before losing his wicket to former Australian bowler Dirk Nannes, who stripped off his top and ran around the field in delight.
Taylor was then joined by Nevisian batsman Stuart Williams who, after playing some big shots, was caught, giving the former Trinidad and Tobago and Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke his first wicket.
Vice President of the St. Kitts Cricket Association Charles Morton then joined Taylor at the crease and they both regularly found the boundary. Morton was however given a life when he was dropped by Sir Vivian Richards on the long off boundary.
He finished on 22.
The Prime Minister’s XI went on to reach 164 from their allotted 20 overs.
In their chase, Viv’s XI got off to a rocket start by Gidron Pope and former Australian captain Damien Martin, who together put on 62 for the opening stand. Following Pope’s dismissal for 34, Martin went on an all-out attack on the bowlers.
He hit a ball to Attorney-General Byron who was convincingly beaten and it went all the way to the boundary. The very next delivery was once again hit to Byron who redeemed himself by cleanly fielding the ball to the loud cheers from the crowd.
Byron was then given the task of bowling the 14th over and again received loud cheers from the crowd. The cheers were then amplified when he took the wicket of Martin for 50.
In the following over, Deputy Prime Minster Shawn Richards was in the spotlight as he also fluffed an easy fielding opportunity.
The Attorney-General was given a second over and he picked up the wicket of Yorke, whom he lured out of his crease and the wicketkeeper did the rest.
The moment everyone waited for finally came in the final over of the game when Sir Vivian Richards walked out to the middle to bat with his team needing 13 runs to win from four balls.
Facing Morton, Richards completely missed the delivery and was stumped, bringing the game to an end with his side falling 11 runs short of the target.
The game however had a mixture of good cricket as well as some comedy, but it was all for a good cause. The proceeds from the game will be donated to the St. Kitts-Nevis National Education Foundation.
