Cricket: Barbados Defeat Bermuda Select XI
[Written by Patrick Bean]
Barbados defeated Bermuda Select XI by nine wickets at National Sports Centre, North Field on the penultimate day [Saturday] of competition in the Bermuda Premier League [BPL].
Bermuda Select XI batted first and struggled on a sticky wicket, scoring 82 for seven, as Allan Douglas Jr top-scored for the home team with 26 runs, slamming two sixes and two fours.
Onias Bascome was next best in the batting department with 22, he and Douglas able to put on 41 runs for the fifth wicket, after a tragic early order collapse had left them at four for four.
JD Albertze [ten] was next best, and the only other bat in double figures for Bermuda Select XI, as they struggled to score runs with fluidity against a disciplined Barbados team captained by Matthew Jones.
The leading wicket-takers for the visitors were Jones and Stefon King, who each grabbed two wickets, while Javed Leacock, Kemar Smith and Amari Goodridge took one wicket apiece.
Man of the Match Shaqhere Parris
Eventual Man of the Match, Shaqhere Parris, was spectacular in the field, snatching four catches.
Parris [26] also inspired with the bat, as he and fellow opener Leniko Boucher [42 not out] scored freely, making productive use of the gaps among the North Field’s large expanse, hitting combined 10 fours and two sixes.
Maximising the fielding restrictions contained in the power play overs — first six overs of the match — the pair scored at a per over run rate of 10.67.
The pair took immediate liking to the first four bowlers used by Bermuda Select XI, as Greg Maybury, Shakai Darrell, Jordon Burgess and Pedro Baron combined to give up 64 runs during the power play.
Immediately after the power play ended Allan Douglas Jr struck for Bermuda Select, bowling Parris, but Yvan Grant [11] ensured there would be no more damage, as he and Boucher engaged in an unbeaten 19-run, second-wicket partnership, that took them to a match-winning total of 84 for one.
“I’m just coming into the side and, obviously, I want to grasp the opportunity with both hands and it was a good game overall,” said Parris, after receiving the Man of the Match award. “It was a good game by both sides, but chasing 80 was pretty easy.”
Looking forward to the final Parris said that his side were aiminig to finish the job they came to do, which is to win the tournament.
“Our plan is to win the tournament, of course, and to go undefeated,” he said.
Barbados will play the winner of the match between Bermuda and Grassroots Cricket Academy.
