Bermuda Reaches Final Of Premier League
[Written by Patrick Bean]
Bermuda reached the final of the Bermuda Premier League [BPL] based on net run rate, as late afternoon rain forced the match between the hosts and Grassroots Cricket Academy to be abandoned.
Both teams ended the round-robin phase with one win, one loss and the abandonment, which offered a point to each team, as they both ended on four points. Bermuda had the better net run rate of +1.029, compared to -0.336 for Grassroots Cricket Academy.
The ending was a disappointing one for the players and the many spectators ringing the grounds, with the match shaping as one to have an exciting finish, featuring Bermuda chasing a tantalising total.
The young team from Antigua and Barbuda had won the toss and chosen to bat first.
They made Bermuda work hard in the field, losing just one wicket, that of opening batsman Michael Dover for 28, his lowest score of the tournament.
However, he did not go easily, having participated in a 71-run opening stand with captain Kadeem Henry.
Knowing that a victory would assure his team a place in Sunday’s final against Barbados, Henry produced a true captain’s innings of 68 not out from 58 balls, notching six fours and two sixes.
He and No. 3 bat, Uri Smith [32 not out] scored steadily after Dover’s dismissal against tight, if not penetrative, bowling from the Bermuda attack.
The home team were also restrictive in the field, holding the opposition to 6.55 runs per over, for a par total of 131 for one, quite reachable for a national outfit hopeful of making the final.
Taking the lone wicket for Bermuda was part-time bowler Dominic Sabir, the fifth bowler used. Sabir was yet economical, his one scalp achieved when both batsmen were well set and costing just 23 runs.
Rain intervened between innings, but what initially appeared would be a passing showing became a steady downpour, with play called off at 5.15 pm.
As fate would have it the rain stopped at 5.30, but the decision to abandon had been made final by match officials, allowing for a share of the points, which favoured the home team, who will face an unbeaten Barbados outfit, but one that will be missing at least six players, who are due to leave on a 4pm flight to Canada.
The match will be preceded by the plate final between Bermuda Select XI and Grassroots Cricket Academy [10 am] at NSC, North Field.
