Hundreds of cricket fans enjoyed the spectacular, light-hearted battle between the Sagicor UWI Icons and the Prime Minister’s XI, but people of the islands ravaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria were the main beneficiaries when the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus put on the Sagicor Celebrity T20 Benefit match on Saturday night at the 3Ws Oval.
The Prime Minister’s XI won by seven runs via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method, but the highlight of the evening came after the on-field contest, when Donald Austin, chief executive officer of Sagicor Life Eastern Caribbean, presented a cheque worth US$100 000 to UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles.
Sir Hilary had earlier excited the audience with a breezy knock of 29 that included two sixes out of the Icons total of 183 for five.
In reply, the Prime Minister’s XI were given an explosive start by openers, former West Indies players Dwayne Smith and Omar Phillips, who posted 123 before both retired on 50 and 84, respectively.
When rain interrupted play for the second and final time, the PM’s XI were 156 for one from 17.1 overs.
The match commenced in dramatic fashion as former West Indies pacer, Jamaican Franklyn Rose (2-10) captured the first two wickets with the second and third deliveries of the first over, to be on a hat-trick.
Sir Hilary teamed up with Dale Richards in the first of two handy partnerships that preceded an entertaining, unbroken 90-run sixth-wicket stand between UWI student Cameron Pennyfeather and Vasbert Drakes.
Kittitian Pennyfeather, who made an unbeaten 58, and Drakes, with 40 not out, combined for six fours and eight sixes to boost the total.
Phillips was the main aggressor as he and Smith set about chasing down the formidable target in an aggressive opening stand.
In uncharacteristic fashion, Smith adopted the support role before he was first to retire on reaching 50 off 36 balls.
Phillips soon forfeited his knock after 51 balls, having struck six fours and six sixes. (WH)
