CHARLESTOWN Nevis, March 31st 2011 - There was obvious tension at the Ramsbury grounds yesterday as the last pair for the Gingerland Secondary School team, Trevin Nisbett and Corey Morton, faced the ordeal of making just one run for victory with the Cayon Secondary School team still having all of six overs to bowl in the 35 overs encounter. When the final run was scored, the GSS boys raced onto the field in obvious jubilation but also with a clear sense of relief.
The Cayon team batted first and scored a challenging 199 for 7 from their 35 overs. Leading the way was the elegant Tristan Hanley who batted superbly for his 83. The youngster who actually plays first division cricket in St.Kitts, played shots all around the grounds but fell short of completing a century.
The pick of the bowlers for the GSS team was Colin Kezron Archibald who bowled a controlled spell of medium pace to scalp 3 for 19.
After the early loss of opener Shadell Bussue who was bowled neck and crop, the most accomplished batsmen for the school in Lornel Dore and Colin Kezron Archibald teamed up in an impressive partnership which set the GSS team on course for what looked like an easy victory. As a matter of fact, Manager/Coach for the team Joseph Morton expressed the prediction that the Cayon team would be ‘getting an early boat down’.
Then the unexpected happened: The two batsmen had a misunderstanding over a call for a sharp single. Kezron Archibald was left stranded mid pitch but the throw went to the wrong end. Lornel Dore on getting back safely in his crease, turned with theb same momentum and ventured down the track as if to talk it over with Archibald and the wicketkeeper promptly removed the bails and appealed. The umpire pointed him to the pavilion ruling that the ball was still in play. An astonished Dore stood for a little while before he made his lonely trek back to his teammates.
Thereafter, Tristan Hanley started to spin a web around the batsmen and the GSS team seemed to be doing the electric slide as batsmen came and went as if there was an emergency in the pavilion.
The GSS team however managed to complete the winning total in tense fashion.
They will now await the outcome of the second semi final encounter to be played in St.Kitts next week, involving the CSS team.
Match summary: Cayon: 199 for 7 in 35 overs: Tristan Hanley 83; Alexi Bedford 36; Shakeed Bedford 33.
Colin Archibald 3 for 19; Adrian Williams 2 for 23
GSS 200 for 9 in 29.4 overs: Colin Archibald 58; Lornel Dore 29;Adrian Williams 18
Tristan Hanley 4 for 29; Alexi Bedford 2 for 16; Gregory Hewitt 2 for 31.
