Rivals makes it two in a row

MVC Rivals has retained the RBTT Premier Division title, its fourth since the club’s existence.

Rivals, which emerged in 1978 from the previous Richmond Hill United, formed in 1973, outplayed and outclassed ECGC Radcliffe with an emphatic nine wicket win at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field last weekend.{{more}}

In a virtual final, Rivals finished with 80 points, in the eight-team race. In glorious weather, Radcliffe batted first and made 115. Delroy Johnson powered 50, before he went by the run out route. Rolando Wilkinson was 5 for 49 and Orlanzo Jackson, 2 for 22. In response, Rivals posted 142. Marvin Small, 43, Jackson, 40, and Teron Harper, 37.

Dyke Cato, returning to the team after a six-week absence, bagged 5 for 51 and Mahlon John, 3 for 48. With a deficit of 27 runs, Radcliffe, batting a second time, made 13. Lynden James battled for 49, as Jackson snared 7 for 45.

Requiring 108 to win, Rivals’ top order blasted Radcliffe’s bowling and reached 109 for 1. Small, fresh from the West Indies TCL Under-19 tournament, was dominant with his 49 not out, Harper 30 and Nicholas Baptiste 28 not out.

When the winning runs were achieved, the Rivals team became jubilant as they knew they were once again holding the bragging rights

Playing at Arnos Vale One, the other title chasers, Victors One, who went into their final match, like Rivals on 64 points, had to settle for first innings points over Police Two. With the two fixtures a stone’s throw from each other, both monitored each other. Victors One reached 275 for 6 declared. Atticus Browne made 96 before the left hander was run out attempting a second.

The teenaged batsman sobbed openly as he missed out on his maiden century at the Premier Division level. Miles Bascombe hit 63, Lauron Francois, 35, and former St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Windwards left handed middle order batsman Albert Tesheira, 26 not out. Mohammed Lavia was 2 for 49.

Police, fielding ten players, were dismissed for 136. Alexis Byron topscored with 36. Alston Bobb took 5 for 32. Police, asked to follow on, were held together by their captain Kenroy Martin, who batted for just over two hours for his five runs, as Police laboured to 54 for 7.

Victors One was awarded ten runs for Martin’s deliberate time wasting tactics. Bobb had 3 for 7, Norlan Williams, 2 for 15, and Keiron Cottoy, 2 for 15.

Victors finished second with 72 points. The News Spartans docked in third with 68. Radcliffe was fourth with 61. (RT)