Members of the Fairfield United take a celebratory victory lap around the Chedwin Park cricket ground after securing a 30-run win over Links United in the SDC National Community T20 finals.
Defending champions Fairfield United retained the SDC National Community T20 Cricket title in a low scoring final against Links United at Chedwin Park on Sunday, August 25th.
After losing the toss and being invited to bat, Fairfield United managed only 147 runs when their innings came to an end with 3 balls remaining in the innings. However, the reigning champions were not prepared to go down without a fight and managed to restrict Links United to 117 all out to win by 30 runs and take the trophy back to Manchester for the third time overall.
Leighton Leslie, player and manager of Fairfield United said that his team was never worried about retaining their title despite putting less than their targeted total on the board.
“We had a target in mind of 180, however we fell short. But as usual, we back our bowling. We have one of the better bowling (attacks) in this complete competition and after getting the 147, we knew that we were going to defend it. If they were going to get it, they would have to go to the last ball. So, at no point we were fretting or worried about the total that we got,” he said.
Leslie noted that the team had to overcome early season difficulties from which they learned as the season progressed.
“We had a rough start in this competition. We almost didn’t make it to the parish stages, but we got a lifeline and from there on, we have just been playing more disciplined cricket,” he noted.
Leslie hinted at continued success for Fairfield United based on the composition of his squad.
“We have a lot of youngsters in our programme. We have a good crop of youngsters coming up.”
He was also impressed with the preparation of the grounds for the finals, thanks in part to sponsors such as Wray & Nephew.
“When I came to the cricket ground and looked at it closely, I must say it is at international standard. I must say this competition is well put together and it’s a joy to win it back-to-back.
During their time at bat, Jamaine Morgan got Fairfield off to a flier but fell to the penultimate ball of the second over with the score at 20/1, amassing 15 runs off 10 deliveries.
A second wicket stand of 37 runs between Javed Williams and Zidane Gordon pushed the score along to 57 in the 8th over before Gordon departed for a quick fire 25 off 20 deliveries. Williams was next to go at 65/3 in the 9th over as the Links United skipper captured two wickets for 35 runs from his spell of four overs.
Fairfield tried to push the score along, but Tevin Gilzene stymied the run chase as the chief wicket taker for Links United put the brakes on the defending champions when he snapped up the next five wickets to fall in the middle overs to end with figures of 5 for 19 off his 4 overs.
Roshawn McKenzie was the only batsman of the last four wickets to get into double figures as he made 16 runs from 13 deliveries before he went caught off the bowling of Amoi Campbell.
Links United got off to the worst possible start in their quest for 148 runs to win when they lost their first wicket off the third ball of the innings with the score at 4/1. Damion Bryce returned to the pavilion, caught by Jamaine Morgan off the bowling of Romario Marshall.
Tevin Gilzene, who had been magical with the ball, tried to replicate the performance with the bat, but he went for 19 runs, of 8 deliveries at 39/2 in the 4th over.
Things were still within reach for Links at that stage, but a steady stream of wickets from the 4th to the 7th over, saw them slip from 39/2 to 64/6 due to injudicious shots from the batsmen coupled with good fielding from the defending champions.
A brief recovery saw Links get beyond the 100-run mark for the loss of just one more wicket, but two wickets in two balls to end the 13th over and start the 14th over saw them reduced to 106/9 which left the defending champions on the verge of a repeat victory.
Roshawn McKenzie then completed the final rites when he bowled Nashawn Campbell for 4 runs with the second ball of the 16th over to leave Links United all out for 117 runs. McKenzie ended with figures of 2 wickets for 10 runs from 2.2 overs while Richard Thomas with 4 for 17 from 4 overs was the pick of the bowlers for Fairfield.
Kerry-Ann Bryan, Brand Manager of Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum could not hide her excitement after watching an engaging and exciting final.
“It’s been a pleasure to be here with you at Chedwin Park, where we come together to celebrate not just a game but a tradition that runs deep in the heart of our nation. Cricket, like Wray & Nephew, has a longstanding tradition in Jamaica and it is synonymous with passion. It’s not just a sport; it’s a way of life. A good cricketer plays with heart, not just skill, bringing a level of energy and enthusiasm that inspires everyone around them,” Bryan remarked.
“The game isn’t for individual glory; it’s about teamwork and community. A good cricketer knows that the success of the team comes first. They play for something bigger than themselves, representing their community, their culture, and their shared values,” she continued.
Earlier in the afternoon, Angel’s defeated Bushy Park by eight wickets to win the Masters title.
Barbados Pride soar into CG United Super50 final after commanding 153-run win over T&T Red Force
Barbados Pride delivered a clinical performance to storm into the CG United Super50 Cup final, as they hammered defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by a massive 153 runs in their semi-final clash at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Wednesday.
This victory propelled the Pride—who last tasted glory in the 2016-17 season and reached their last final in 2017-18—into contention for their seventh title.
Scores: Barbados Pride 339-7 (50 overs); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 186 all out (36.3 overs)
After being sent in to bat, the Pride’s openers, Zachary McCaskie and Leniko Boucher, laid the foundation with a scintillating 142-run partnership. McCaskie, the more aggressive of the pair, entertained with a blistering 94 off just 82 deliveries, smashing six boundaries and six towering sixes.
However, his departure, courtesy of Mark Deyal, did little to disrupt the Pride’s momentum.
This, as Captain Raymond Reifer joined the fray with a brisk 65 and added another crucial 50-run stand with Boucher, who contributed a steady 69 off 84 balls in a knock that had seven boundaries. Reifer's 60-ball knock, which included six fours and a six, epitomized controlled aggression that applied further pressure to the Red Force bowlers.
Even when Boucher fell to Deyal and Kevin Wickham (14) went to spinner Khary Pierre, Reifer, and Roston Chase (43), on return from West Indies duties, added another 50 for the fourth wicket.
Chase’s quick-fire 31-ball knock, which had only two fours and a six, ensured the Pride capitalized on the foundation laid by the top order.
Reifer eventually became Deyal’s third scalp, and Chase went to Shannon Gabriel, but the damage was already done as the Pride were at 297-5 at that point. The lower order contributed the remaining runs to the daunting total.
Deyal stood out for the Red Force with figures of 4-53, but his efforts were insufficient to stem the tide.
Facing a mountain of runs, the Red Force faltered early and never recovered. The only bright spot in their reply was a 68-run second wicket partnership between Tion Webster and Amir Jangoo (16). Webster’s aggressive 56 off 47 balls, which featured eight boundaries and a six, gave fleeting hope before he became the fourth wicket to fall with the score at 91.
After Webster’s dismissal, Deyal (34) and Isiah Rajah (28) added a brief 53-run stand for the seventh wicket, but the Red Force were ultimately bowled out for a paltry 186 in just 36.3 overs.
Dominic Drakes led the Pride’s bowling charge with 3-24, with Chase (2-40) and Kemar Smith (2-42) also doing some damage.
The Pride’s dominance sets up a highly anticipated final against the winner of the Jamaica Scorpions versus Leeward Islands Hurricanes semi-final, scheduled for Thursday.
Finish well: Andre Coley eyes redemption, momentum as Windies gear up for Bangladesh Test
West Indies Head coach Andre Coley is exuding quiet confidence as his team prepares for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
With the matches—scheduled for November 22-26 in Antigua and November 30 to December 4 in Kingston—marking the final home series in the current World Test Championship cycle, Coley is determined to see the Caribbean side end the year on a high note after recent setbacks.
The West Indies are coming off a disappointing tour of South Africa, where they failed to capitalize on key moments and eventually lost that two-match series 1-0 after the first game ended in a draw. Reflecting on those matches, Coley stressed the importance of learning from the past and seizing the opportunity to close out this series on a strong note.
“Coming off the disappointment of the South Africa series, we put ourselves in a position to close out that series, and we didn’t. So the opportunity is there for us to do so against Bangladesh now, and it is very important for us to come up with a winning result on home soil,” Coley said in a pre-series interview.
“We’ve always had exciting and challenging series against Bangladesh, and this series offers a chance to create momentum as we head into tougher assignments in Australia and Pakistan,” he added.
Coley and his team, which includes players from the regional 50-over tournament and recent white-ball series, are currently in Antigua fine-tuning preparations ahead of Friday’s first day.
Despite initial weather disruptions, Coley pointed out that the team has had productive sessions, with all players fit and ready for action.
While West Indies boast a strong home record against Bangladesh, Coley is keen to keep his squad grounded. He recognizes the challenges posed by Bangladesh and the added intrigue of familiar faces on the opposition side, including Bangladesh Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, a figure Coley knows well.
“Each match brings a different opportunity. We have players who’ve been successful against Bangladesh, both home and away, but we also have some new players who wouldn’t have played in any of those series. So it’s an opportunity for senior players and emerging players to show what they are capable of and what we are capable of as a team,” Coley noted.
The series against Bangladesh serves as a vital stepping stone beyond the larger context of the World Test Championship, as West Indies sit at the foot of the standings in ninth on 20 points.
Still, with four matches left in the cycle, Coley is focused on building a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level.
“This series is about putting everything together from the last year and a half and ending the year in good form,” he declared.
That said, the Jamaican highlighted the importance of fan support, especially during the festive season. Cricket remains a unifying force in the Caribbean, and Coley hopes that fans will rally behind the team.
“I know that the West Indian fans really want us to do well and have been supportive in their own way because cricket means a lot to the region and the fans are very passionate about the game. Despite the nature of our squad, emerging and experienced players, everyone in the squad wants to do well, so I want to encourage the fans to come out and support us and give us that extra boost of encouragement at home,” Coley ended.
Global Super League announces schedule change ahead of 2024 Tournament
The ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) has announced a schedule adjustment ahead of its inaugural tournament, which is set to take place at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The final will now be held on Friday, 6 December 2024, while the match between Hampshire Hawks and Victoria has been rescheduled to 10:00 AM on Thursday, 5 December 2024.
The tournament, featuring five teams—Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hampshire Hawks, Lahore Qalandars, Rangpur Riders, and Victoria—kicks off on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.
Sir Clive Lloyd, Chairman of the GSL, explained that the schedule changes were made in consultation with Cricket West Indies to avoid potential clashes with preparations for the West Indies' ODI series against Bangladesh.
“While the squads for the West Indies ODI series against Bangladesh have not yet been announced, we wanted to ensure that there was no chance of a clash between the conclusion of the GSL and the preparations for that series,” Lloyd said. “This decision has been made after discussions with Cricket West Indies to ensure the integrity of both the West Indies vs Bangladesh series and the GSL.”
Ticket holders for the affected matches can still use their existing tickets for entry. Those unable to attend the rescheduled games will be eligible for a full refund.
Revised Schedule for the 2024 Global Super League
26 November, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Lahore Qalandars
27 November, 7:00 PM: Hampshire Hawks vs Rangpur Riders
29 November, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Victoria
30 November, 10:00 AM: Hampshire Hawks vs Lahore Qalandars
1 December, 10:00 AM: Rangpur Riders vs Victoria
1 December, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Hampshire Hawks
3 December, 7:00 PM: Victoria vs Lahore Qalandars
4 December, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Rangpur Riders
5 December, 10:00 AM: Hampshire Hawks vs Victoria
5 December, 7:00 PM: Lahore Qalandars vs Rangpur Riders
6 December, 7:00 PM: Final – First Place vs Second Place
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
