North East buckets Masters Cricket title at first go

In their first outing, North East has claimed the SVG Masters Cricket Twenty/20 Competition.

And, there was no better place to land the title than at their home ground – the Park Hill Playing Field.{{more}}

Facing Sion Hill in the final last Sunday, they won the toss and decided to bat, and reached 139 for 7 from their maximum 20 overs.

Peter Campbell at the top of the order, struck 29; while Olanzo Jackson – 27, Winsbert Springer – 25 and Deighton Butler – 22, were called upon to stitch up the innings after some tight bowling for Sion Hill.

Butler hit a flurry of sixes, three in succession in the last over, bowled by Bill Edwards, to finally prop up his team’s total.

Edwards ended with 3 for 25 and Ronald Medford had 2 for 7.

Sion Hill then went about to shoot themselves in the foot, by first fiddling with the batting order, as well as conjuring up four run outs, to aid North East’s cause.

Augustine Victory lashed five sixes in a breezy knock of 32, before he gifted his wicket to Olanzo Jackson.

Bill Edwards – 17 ; Michael Duncan batting down the order was 17 not out, as Sion Hill was restricted to 114 for 9 from their 20 overs, thus giving North East the win by 25 runs.

Winsbert Springer collected 2 for 17 and Olanzo Jackson – 2 for 18, to see North East remain unbeaten throughout the competition.

A beaming Jackson, who led North East, summarised that day’s efforts and the entire competition as “a team effort”.

Jackson referred to their outing against LOG Enterprises Kingstown – the dethroned champions, as the toughest opponent, despite having a scare in the semi-finals on Saturday against RSVG Police at the Stubbs Playing Field.

North East had to depend on their last wicket pair to eke out a one wicket win and a passage to last Sunday’s finals.

Batting first, RSVG Police made 90, to which North East replied with 91 for 9.

In the other half of the semifinals, also played on Saturday, Sion Hill comfortably dispatched Carlos James North Leeward by eight wickets at the Arnos Vale One.

North Leeward made 124 for 8 from their allotted 20 overs; William Edwards topscored with 20.

Bowling for Sion Hill, Augustine Victory grabbed 3 for 5 and Sylvanus Vanloo – 2 for 22.

Bill Edwards then stroked 54 not out and Michael Duncan – 50, as Sion Hill cruised to 125 for 2, and a berth in the finals.

But when it mattered on Sunday, North East had the loudest laugh – the title, $1200, a trophy, and products from LOG Enterprises.

Sion Hill collected a trophy, $800 and products compliments LOG Enterprises.(RT)