Christ Church Foundation School’s cricketers received the perfect early Christmas gift yesterday, when they captured the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Intermediate title.
The Foundation lads won by virtue of a very hard-fought first innings lead in their drawn encounter with Rocklyn Hardware Isolation Cavaliers in the four-day final.
Foundation have earned the right to be promoted to play in the First Division (formerly Upper Intermediate) competition next year.
Resuming from an overnight score of 87 for two and needing another 183 runs for the vital lead, Isolation Cavaliers were dismissed for 235 in the eighth over of the final 15 overs.
After his heroics with the bat on Saturday, Barbados and West Indies Under-19 fast-bowler Jofra Archer returned to grab five for 50 from 19 overs.
Determined
The 58-year-old Dacosta Atherley threatened to spoil the party with a determined unbeaten 74 for Isolation Cavaliers, but lacked the necessary momentum towards the end.
He struck two fours and two sixes and faced 135 deliveries in 216 important minutes at the wicket.
The overnight pair of Jeremy Bowen, with 25, and Kevin Vaughan, six, carried the total to 110 before the third-wicket stand of 45 was broken.
Edged
Bowen, pushing, edged a regulation catch to substitute wicketkeeper Xavier Duncan off Nhamo Winn for 32.
Vaughan made 27 but fell on the stroke of the water-break, caught at the wicket, driving at leg-spinner Aaron Jones, who started the attack from the southern end and sent down 18 overs on the trot.
One run later, Khalil Herbert was trapped leg before first ball, playing across the line to Archer.
Atherley and Jamaine Bullen halted the slide with a resolute sixth-wicket partnership worth 53.
Atherley played a memorable hook off Winn which sailed over the head of long-leg for six.
Isolation Cavaliers went to tea on 168 without further loss with Atherley on 36 and Bullen seven.
Final laugh
The third ball after the interval, Bullen lifted Aaron Jones on to the sightscreen. However, Jones had the final laugh when Bullen (17) pulled a short ball to Carlos Maynard at deep mid-wicket.
Atherley survived a confident appeal for a run out at the non-striker’s end when Aaron Jones threw down the stumps from cover.
Oneal Holder was bowled behind his back by a probing Archer.
Archer was in the picture again with a decisive first over of the mandatory 15, when 51 runs were needed with three wickets in hand.
He removed Hallam Bryan and Jamar Waithe off the first and third ball.
Last man Jamar Carter delayed the Foundation celebrations, facing 23 balls without scoring, until Jerome Jones breached his defence.
Jerome took two for 33 and namesake Aaron two for 76.
It marked the second straight year Isolation Cavaliers have finished runners-up in the Intermediate competition.
