St Michael Merchants secured a berth in the semi-finals of the University of the West Indies/Barbados Cricket Association Inter-Parish Twenty20 Cricket Tournament with a comfortable six-wicket victory over St winless Joseph Titans at the 3Ws Oval on Monday night.
Batting first, St Joseph were restricted to an unsatisfactory 93 for seven in their 20 overs with opener Zidane Harewood hitting two sixes in the top score of 41 off 49 balls.
Veteran slow-medium bowler Andre Evelyn starred with the ball, taking two for eight in four tight overs while left-arm spinner Dane Currency, who used the new ball, supported with two for 15 from his four overs.
In reply, heavy-set opener JaiBari Yarde hammered five fours and a six in breezy 35 off 28 balls as the Merchants romped to 95 for four in 10.1 overs to gain their third straight win and top Zone B with maximum nine points.
On Sunday, hosts UWI Blackbirds, propelled by a fine all-round display from Leniko Boucher kept alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals with a 20-run triumph over the previously unbeaten St Thomas Warriors, who had won their first two matches.
Boucher made 72 with five fours and a six off 59 balls in the Blackbirds’ total of 142 for eight and returned to take three for 30 as the Warriors were restricted to 122 for seven in their 20 overs.
Summarised Scores
On Monday: St Joseph Titans 93-7 in 20 overs (Zidane Harewood 41, Renaldo Holder 15, Mikhail Austin 14; Andre Evelyn 2-8, Deswin Currency 2-15). St Michael Merchants 95-4 in 10.1 overs (JaiBari Yarde 35, Jonathan Drakes 20 n.o., Rashidi Boucher 16; Lamar Clarke 3-20). St Michael Merchants won by six wickets.
On Sunday: UWI Blackbirds 142-8 (Leniko Boucher 72, Akeem Dewar 19, Keron Cottoy 12: Dominic Drakes 3-23, Ryan Nurse 2-30). St Thomas Warriors 122-7 in 20 overs (Akeem Springer 38, Dominic Drakes 24 n.o., Anthony Rollins 17, Diego Stuart 10; Leniko Boucher 3-30, Marlon Welcome-Goodman 2-33). UWI Blackbirds won by 20 runs. (EZS)