National Cricket Competition off to a fighting start

Cricket, the gentleman’s game, received a black mark last Sunday afternoon at the Arnos Vale One, when a fight broke out on the field of play,{{more}} forcing on field umpires Roger Davis and Dillon Child to abandon the National Lotteries Premier Division match between newly promoted ASCO and the 2011 champions, Victors One.

The incident occurred about 5:14 p.m., with the match interestingly poised with ASCO on 142 for 6, chasing 159 for an outright win, when two players from opposing sides brawled, hurling punches at each other.

The offending players were Nicos Davis of ASCO and Victors One’s wicket keeper Seon Sween.

But quick action by the two umpires and other players prevented an escalation of the incident.

Child told SEARCHLIGHT that he and Davis had no choice, but to call the match off.

“I do not know what led up to the scuffle; the outcome of the match will be in the hands of the executive, I presume,” Child stated.

President of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Julian Jack, who was on hand, immediately condemned the incident.

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT Jack said: “It is an unfortunate incident in Cricket; I have never seen anything like this in my thirty something years of playing Cricket and, from this distance, I cannot account for what caused the incident.

“I have to await the reports of the umpires and the captains for us to see what is in them and determine whether or not we need to bring the Disciplinary Committee into play,” Jack expanded.

The two-day match was one of two Premier Division fixtures which bowled off the 2012 national Cricket season.

Victors One batted first on Saturday and declared at 99 for 8. Miles Bascombe made 31. Bowling for ASCO, Elric Morris took 3 for 27 and Vernardo Primus 2 for 36.

ASCO in response made 119. Darren Greaves scored 26 and Oswald Soleyn 25. Keron Cottoy bagged 5 for 67 and Alston Bobb 4 for 37, bowling for Victors One.

Batting a second time, Victors One made their second declaration, this time at 178 for 6. Atticus Browne struck 51, Alston Bobb 43 not out and Lauron Francois 39.

For ASCO, Andre Hunte picked 3 for 38 and Elric Morris 2 for 57.

At the point of the abandonment of the match, Desron Maloney had made 48, Nicos Davis was 26 not out and Elric Morris was 12 not out.