Bentick opens up national cricket with a century

There was neither a formal opening ceremony nor much fanfare to start the 2007 national cricket competition, but Rawdon Bentick heralded the season in with a century.

Bentick struck the first century, scoring 116 for Smashers against Radcliffe Too as the Ju-c First Divison got going.{{more}}

The 18-year old left-handed opening batsman struck 10 fours and 8 sixes, as he revelled in the improved conditions at the Stubbs Playing Field.

Bentick’s knock was the bedrock of Smashers’ second innings total of 248. He also made 24 in his team’s first innings of 152. Verbert King bagged 5 for 22 in Smashers first innings.

Radcliffe had scores of 79 and 85, as they were routed by Courtney Joyette 4 for 17 and Hassan Edwards 2 for 21, in their first strike. Only Michael St. Hillaire with 33, made any score of note.

Kelsworth Lewis 3 for 17 and Darren Russell 3 for 14, were the main destroyers of Radcliffe Too’s second innings as they only fielded nine players on the second day.

Smashers made up mainly of players from the former Numbgerz team collected full points for their outright win by 236 runs.

The situation was different in the two RBTT Premier Division matches played at the refurbished Arnos Vale and Sion Hill Playing Fields.

At Sion Hill ECGC Radcliffe took first innings points from Eat Rite Saints.

Radcliffe posted 171. Mahlon John 32, Wayne Harper 30 with Dellorn Johnson and Lynden James both scoring 27. The evergreen Walford Ambris with his slow turners was Saints’ most successful bowler with 4 for 47. He was supported by Amareal Bobb with 3 for 47 and Devon London 2 for 35.

Saints ended their innings at 161, with Ambris again in the thick of things making 62 not out and Rodrigo Thomas 31.

Radcliffe were 145 for 1 when play was called off. The burly Delroy Johnson was 81 not out. Wayne Harper had earlier supported him with 58.

Similarly, the star studded Victors One took first innings points from last year’s runner up MVC Rivals at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Victors with imports from other clubs have new faces in Donwell Hector, Jamal Ash, Norlan Williams, Seon Sween and Rolando Coombs batted first and scored 197.

Miles Bascombe topscored with 66, Ash 28 and Hector 26.

Orlanzo Jackson bagged his first handful for the season taking 5 for 83 and Deighton Butler 3 for 32.

Rivals fell short by 8 runs; dismissed for 189.Harley Skerritt returning to his former club after a year’s absence struck 66 with Rolando Wilkinson making 32 and Nicholas Baptiste 31. Williams celebrating his cross over from Saints grabbed 5 for 52, and Keiron Cottoy 2 for 68.

Batting a second time Victors were 135 for 2, with Danson Andrews 51 not out and Bascombe followed up his first innings knock with 48.