THE INAUGURAL Gatorade triangular St Philip Schools tournament could not have asked for a more spectacular finish.
The final between Hilda Skeene and Bayleys at King’s Park yesterday went down to the last ball, and in the end, there was nothing to separate the teams.
The match ended in a thrilling tie after high drama off the final ball.
Needing four runs with the last wicket pair in, Bayleys scampered three after Hilda Skeene gifted them two runs from overthrows.
Batting first after they were sent in, Hilda Skeene totalled 129 for two off their 25 overs on the back of an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 83 between in-form Shian Brathwaite and Maxwell Lewis.
Opener Brathwaite made an unbeaten 61 that included three sixes and two fours and followed earlier scores of 44 not out and 51 that earned with the Player of the Tournament award.
The left-handed Lewis, who was born in Sweden and never played cricket until recently, weighed in with an undefeated 35 that contained three boundaries.
Bayleys made an encouraging start to their chase and would have fancied their chances of winning after reaching 98 for four.
They lost their way and it came down to the final ball in which Ricardo King faced up to medium fast bowler Kemshon Wilkinson.
After the match, tournament co-ordinator Trevor Alleyne expressed satisfaction with the tournament.
In addition to the two finalists, St Catherine also contested the week-long tournament that attracted sponsorship from RMJ Agencies and Global Tours and Travel Services.
Alleyne said it was the intention to stage two tournaments next year, one in the summer ahead of the National Sports Council’s (NSC) Guardian General Herman Griffith Primary Schools competition and another over the Christmas period.
“I am hoping to get more schools involved. We want to have cricket strong among the schools in St Philip. The NSC cannot do all. They do not have the coaches,” Alleyne said.
“This tournament was a success, but there is room for improvement and we want to go from strength to strength. We are not selfish. I will like other parishes follow suit so that we can have Barbados and West Indies cricket on the rise again.” (HG)
Summarised scores:
Hilda Skeene 129-2 in 25 overs (Shiann Brathwaite 61 n.o., Maxwell Lewis 35). Bayleys 129-9 in 25 overs
(Ritri Alleyne 34, Kayode Miller 25, David Scott 10;
M. Lewis 2-24, K. Wilkinson 2-26). Match tied.
