SAGICOR UWI’S lead at the top of the LIME Division 1 cricket table has been cut.
Super Centre Spartan moved to within three points of the front-runners after completing victory over Caribbean Lumber YMPC on the final day of tenth-round matches yesterday.
UWI, who led by seven points at the start of the series, had to settle for a draw against Police after a last-wicket stand and fading light hampered their victory bid.
Spartan were one of four teams in winners’ row. There were also victories for joint third-placed BNB St Catherine along with Banks and Wanderers, both of whom eased their relegation worries.
AT BECKLES ROAD: Rashidi Boucher and Dave Marshall led Super Centre Spartan to an unlikely seven-wicket victory over home team Caribbean Lumber YMPC.
After an hour’s play, YMPC were cruising at 137 before they lost their first wicket of the day after resuming on 69 for two.
David Wiggins was the first to go for a belligerent half-century. He shared a 68-run third-wicket stand with Richmeal Jordan, who scored 18.
From a position of 137 for two and leading by 97, the Marshal spin pair of Dave and Andre orchestrated the complete demolition of the YMPC second innings. YMPC lost their last eight wickets for the addition of 13 runs.
Dave Marshall captured a five-wicket haul, while Andre chipped in with three as the visitors were set 111 to win.
Led by a mature unbeaten 73 by Boucher and a useful 25 by Nicholas Carter, the Parkites completed an easy victory to continue to challenge for this year’s title.
– HAROLD EASTMOND
AT 3WS OVAL: Deon Broome and Jason Smith added 72 runs for the last wicket to enable Police to salvage a draw against leaders Sagicor UWI.
With a deficit of 19, Police continued from 84 for six over night to reach 143 for nine before Broome, who scored his second half-century of the match, on his way to 85 not out, found an unlikely partner in Smith.
They frustrated UWI for more than 15 overs before Smith was eventually caught at extra-cover for 13.
Set 197 for victory, UWI openers Cyprian Forsythe and Simon Naitram rushed the score to 68 before Naitram was run out for 48.
Forsythe followed soon afterwards with the score at 93.
In-form batsman Raymon Reifer (41 not out) and Esra Green (46 not out) took the UWI to within 28 runs of the victory target when fading light ended play with 11 overs remaining.
– EVANS HINKSON
AT BAYFIELD: BNB St Catherin’s left-arm spinner Derick Bishop took his second five-wicket haul in the match (6-52), that sent ESA Field Pickwick crashing to defeat by an innings and seven runs.
Pickwick, resuming from their overnight score of 25 for one and eager to erase the deficit of 193, were bowled out for 186 after the tea interval.
Kyle Hope topscored with 85 which included three boundaries, while Ryan Arthur contributed with 35 and Ryan Layne 18.
Bishop, the main destroyer, claimed Hope as one of his six victims, while the three other wickets were distributed. Bishop ended with match figures of 11 for 73.
– ANCILLE INNISS
At The Brewery: Perennial left-arm spinner Winston Reid once again delivered for Banks, removing the last two CGI Maple batsmen in the same over as the light faded rapidly to pilot the hosts to a comprehensive victory by an innings and 22 runs.
The visiting batsmen continued their struggles from the previous day when they slumped to 112 for seven to be dismissed for 140 in the first innings and fared no better when forced to follow-on, tumbling to 147 all out off 50 overs.
Earlier, Trinidadian all-rounder Marlon Barclay (5-44) completed a maiden five-wicket haul as Maple’s last three wickets posted a further 28, while Reid (4-26) was well assisted by leg-spinner Shadd Simmon’s(3-43) in the second innings.
Jamar Griffith (43) batted defiantly but lacked support from his teammates who failed to come to terms with the varied bowling attack on the slow pitch.
– WAYNE HOLDER
AT DAYRELLS ROAD: Off-spinner Gary Belle claimed five for 38 from 14.4 overs to propel Wanderers to a comprehensive 110- run win over Guardian General Barbados Youth.
Chasing 231 for victory after Wanderers declared at their overnight 147 for eight, Barbados Youth were routed for a paltry 120 half an hour after tea.
The visitors lost a wicket off the day’s first ball when Marlon Welcome-Goodman was lbw to Jamar Layne.
They then struggled all the way through in a spineless display of batting for the second consecutive day.
They went to tea at 84 for six with Chase on 54 and Damian Hoyte three. On resumption Chase was caught at short mid-wicket off Belle for 59, including seven fours from 126 balls in 168 minutes.
Of the six batsmen dismissed lbw, three fell to Belle. He rounded off the innings with the wickets of Jones and Aamir Murray in consecutive deliveries, to claim match figures of eight for 58.
– ELVIS HOWARD
AT DESMOND HAYNES OVAL: Malcolm Powlett collected three wickets for 39 runs from 11 overs, and Jamar Phillips three for 20 from four overs, but Old Brigand Dover failed to win their
first game, and nst TeleBarbados Carlton.
Kirk Gibson hit 48 not out and Khalid Springer made 41, as Carlton, chasing 180 for victory from a minimum of 33 overs, wobbled to 146 for eight in their second innings before time and overs expired.
Earlier, Dario Vaughan snared four for 45 from 18 overs, as Dover, leading by 30, declared their second innings on 149 for nine just after tea.
The leg-spinner ended the match with nine wickets.
Several batsman got starts for Dover, but no one carried on, with Phillips leading the way with 35.
AT BANK HALL: An unbroken fourth wicket stand of 78 between Courtney Browne and Brian Johnson helped LIME earn a draw against Empire.
Set 225 to win off a minimum 51 overs, LIME limped to 21 for three shortly after tea.
Johnson and Browne showed the value of experience and steady nerves as they defied Empire’s bowling attack until the captains agreed to abandon the match with 16 overs still to be bowled.
Browne was unbeaten on 44 while Johnson scored 19 not out.
Earlier, Empire resuming on 66 for two, declared at 145 for eight. Shawn Graham, unbeaten overnight on 31 scored 41 while Seth Holder converted his overnight 26 to a topscore of 46.
Fast bowler Corey Edwards took four for 52 and leg-spinner Nikolai Charles two for 37.
– PHILIP HACKETT
