CGI MAPLE had an early scare against newcomers Caribbean Alliance Insurance/Akobah Gardens Foundation but rallied to a competitive score and then stifled the schoolboys with strong and stingy bowling to win their first round Sagicor Twenty20 match comfortably by 24 runs yesterday.
Maple recovered from the dire straits of 67 for six to post 122 for seven in their 20 overs but Foundation found runs hard to come when they replied and were restricted to 98 for eight in their 20 overs.
Shane Ramsay (4-0-7-2) was very mean with the new ball, accounting for Shomari Davis and Micah Howard, while fellow-off-spinner Ramon Greaves forced Lee-Germon Gaskin to play on and had both coach/player Nhamo Winn and Joshua Drakes taken in the deep.
Earlier, Foundation off-spinner Shakeem Blades (4-1-14-2) removed Pedro Agard and Shane Parris cheaply and left-arm spinner Pius Emilien accounted for Ramsay, Collis Worrell and Renaldo Parris, who top-scored with 30.
But Don O’Neal gave Maple a final flourish by smashing a four and two sixes off the last three balls in making 16 not out, spoiling the figures of Emilien, who ended with three for 27.
Kirk Brome played sensibly for Maple in making 17 not out while as 55 valuable runs were scored while he was at the crease.
Shakeel Knight (2-17) bowled four tight overs for the schoolboys.
