CHARLESTOWN, Nevis, August 13, 2010 (Press Release) - It came down to 24 runs required from the last two overs and most spectators would have been consoled with the fact that Empire had competed well against the powerful Highlights Int in the first encounter of the best of three finals in the 2010 female cricket league.
At the crease were the exciting Rozel Liburd and the expeMortonrienced Charmaine Walters—they had other ideas. Between them, they milked 10 crucial runs from the over, bowled by Leslie Berkley.
Now there were all of 14 runs required from the final over and they had the extra pace of Curleanne Parris to contend with.
The first ball, fast, straight and yorker length, beat Liburd for pace outside the off stump. There were groans in the Empire camp. The second ball, fast and wide down the leg side, wicket keeper Idella Pemberton did not have the ghost of a chance to stop it and despite the tumbling efforts of Esther Matthew at long leg, it catapulted past the boundary rope—five crucial extras. It meant therefore that there were 5 legal deliveries left with 9 runs required. The batters had crossed and Walters hit the next delivery down to long off for a single.
Four balls left, 8 runs needed. Rozel Liburd dug out another quick yorker into the short midwicket area and got another run. Three balls remaining and 7 runs required. The crowd was on the edge of the ropes-advice was flying left, right and center. Another quick yorker by Parris, well dug out by Walters, straight back to the bowler and the batters set off for an impossible run. Paris did not risk a throw but instead ran to the stumps and smartly removed the bails. Two balls remaining and 7 runs needed—the Empire camp markedly quiet—it looked all over by the shouting from the Highlights camp.
Parris steamed in and the next delivery was superbly picked by Rozel Liburd and smashed over midwicket for a tremendous six—telling blow. Advice was being sent from the Empire camp. Coach Wendell ‘Micey’ Wallace moved quickly to get the Highlights players close in to stop the single.
Tension at the Elquemedo Willet park as Curleanne Parris moved in to bowl that crucial delivery...and she is bowled! A really quick yorker picked out the middle stump of the hard swinging Liburd and the Highlights team celebrates. The Empire team is stunned into silence. The match has ended in a tie and even though there was talk of a ‘bowl off’, Coach Wallace was quick to remind all concerned that a bowl off was not in the playing rules. The rule which applies clearly states that in the event of both teams tying on the same score, the following will determine the winner:
a. The team losing the less wickets
b. The team losing the less wickets after 7 overs
c. The team losing the less wickets after 5 overs
d. If both teams are still equal then both teams will receive one point each.
Based on that fact, Highlights came away the winner having lost no wicket to Empire’s 4.
Summarized scores: Highlights 97 without loss from 12 overs: Ruby Chapman 34 not out and Curleanne Parris 34 not out; 29 extras.
Empire: 97 for 4 from 12 overs: Rozel Liburd 27; Charmaine Walters 22 and Sherilyn Liburd 14—25 extras. Malva Rawlins, Curleanne Parris and Idella Pemberton all collected 1 wicket each.
In the first match of the evening, St.James’ got the better of Super Rockers after Super Rockers seemingly had the game under covers. This in the bottom four finals.
Summarized scores: Super Rockers—82 for 1 from 12 overs: Camella Lawrence 34 not out and Blondina Griffin 29 not out. The two batters had an enterprising, unbroken partnership of 76 runs. Giselle Skeete got the lone wicket to fall.
St.James’ 83 for 7—Giselle Skeete 19; Angel Leader 14Sheryl Sutton 9.
Jasmine Herbert 3 for 22; Chaliese Browne 3 for 27 and Cavelle Browne 1 for 7.
