Team Rivals eye two more trophies… One in bag

Team Rivals have their eyes set on repeating the treble of titles won last year in the national cricket competitions.{{more}}

In the 2013 season, Rivals shared the National Lotteries Premier Division title with Victors One, but also went on to take the inaugural Super-40 competition and added the NLA Neil Williams T-20 crown to the bounty.

And, already this year, Rivals have secured the Premier Division top award, completing the hat trick.

But, it does not stay there for Rivals, undoubtedly the best cricket outfit in St Vincent and the Grenadines at this time. The man who has been at the helm of Team Rivals’ third straight lien on the premier division – Olanzo Jackson, revealed to SEARCHLIGHT’s their objective for 2014.

“Our aim for 2014 is to win back all three trophies… We know we would be without at least one player who helped us last year in the Super-40, but we have a squad which can do the job,” Jackson said with confidence.

“We especially want the Super-40, because it suits our type of game, where you can recover if you make a mistake, not like the 20/20 which is more fast paced,” Jackson, who gives way to Deighton Butler in the two formats, added.

Team Rivals ensured that they would stash trophy number one last Sunday, when they completed a 64-run win over Victor One at the Sion Hill Playing Field.

Batting first, Team Rivals posted 224 all out. Hyron Shallow cranked 50, drizzled with five fours, while Marvin Small lashed 43 and Roneil Jeffrey – 41.

Alston Bobb was the top bowler, as he led from in front for Victors One, bagging 5 for 26.

In response, Victors One was dismissed for 119. Atticus Browne led the way with 27 and Shaquille Browne stroked 25.

Jackson, as he has done for his 16 years in the local competition, snared 6 for 44 from 14 overs, three of which were maidens.

With the title having been secured, batting a second time, Rivals played with gay abandon, to declare at 76 for 8.

Kenneth Dember helped himself to 3 for 7, as Victors One opted to prolong the match, instead of settling for a draw.

Set 182 to win, Victors One fell short by 68 runs, dismissed for 114. Jackson picked up 4 for 22, to end with match figures of 10 for 66.

“It has been another great year in the Premier Division for us… It was good to maintain that level of performance throughout… It is a great feeling for me, as I had to depend a lot on my experience over the years,” Jackson summed up.

General Guardian Saints finished second and LIME Radcliffe, third.(RT)