Urged on by a large crowd of partisan supporters, hometown favourites and defending champions Hoodees Harlington retained their hold on the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) Twenty20 Competition with a workmanlike victory over Barbados Fire Service (BFS) at Rices, St Philip, on Thursday night.
In a repeat of the 2016 final, when Harlington narrowly prevailed by one run, the “home” team won by a 22 runs this time.
Defending a modest 124 for nine, Harlington, spearheaded by a devastating four-over spell by Man Of The Match Godwin Flatts, restricted BFS to 102 for nine to present their hundreds of loyal supporters with a perfect Independence Eve gift.
The St Martin’s, St Philip-based champions won the toss and batted in inviting conditions, but ran into early trouble, losing a wicket to the third delivery and another off the first ball of the second over.
Had BFS been able to hold onto a catch offered by Derick Bishop with the total 2-2, there could have been dire problems for Harlington. But the experienced Bishop, who opened the batting, after also losing veteran Vonrick Nurse with ten runs on the board, linked up with another “old hand” Alcindo Holder to dig their side out of the hole.
The pair gradually rebuilt the innings in a partnership of 71 before Bishop’s departure triggered a second batting collapse in which three wickets fell for one run.
Hard-hitting Holder, who brought up a half century off 34 balls with three fours and three sixes, fell in the 19th over.
BFS captain Lonsdale Blake captured three wickets but young pacers Jared Bernadin and Dominic Drakes, with identical figures of two for 14, instigated the top and middle-order slides.
BFS, too, suffered an early setback when they replied but recovered nicely through a 31-run, second-wicket stand between opener Zachary McCaskie
and Larando Best.
McCaskie’s promising knock was curtailed when he reached 22, and the “Firemen” had their hopes further thwarted when Blake, their most senior and accomplished batsman, found his mobility restricted after apparently tearing a hamstring while completing a sharp run.
The evergreen, 55-year-old medium pacer Flatts came into the attack after
12 overs with the match still evenly poised. By the time he had completed his second over, in which he grabbed three wickets for one run, the outcome
was in little doubt.
A delighted Harlington captain Shawn Crichlow said he was ever confident his side would prevail, describing the experienced unit as “champions”.
Before collecting the winners’ trophy and the $3 000 cheque, he added:
“I know I had a champion team. They proved it throughout the competition. Even when we lost the early wickets
I was never worried”. (WH)
Summarised scores: Hoodee’s Harlington 124-9 in 20 overs (Alcindo Holder 51 (36 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes), Derick Bishop 26; Lonsdale Blake 3-34, Jared Bernadin 2-14, Dominic Drakes 2-14). BFS 102-9 in 20 overs (Zachary McCaskie 22, Larando Best 17, Lonsdale Blake 14, Dale Brathwaite 12 n. o., Dominic Drakes 11; Godwin Flatts 4-11, Derick Bishop 2-10) Hoodees Harlington won by 22 runs.
HONOUR ROLL
Winner: Hoodees Harlington
Runner up: BFS; Third: Combined Health
Most runs: Randy Thomas (268)
Most wickets: Ryan Nurse, Godwin Flatts (13)
Player of series: Randy Thomas
