Franchise cricket returned to the city on Friday evening, as the fifth season of the Saint Lucia Premier League T20 bowled off beneath the brand new lights at Mindoo Phillip Park. The home team, Ackelles City Blasters, earned a 38-run win over MCCU Mon Repos Pioneers, in front of a spirited crowd that exemplified the league’s motto, Show Dem How To Party.
The first six of the season, Stephen Naitram smashing Jamal Lesmond over the Cadet Pavilion, was greeted by music and the cheers of the delighted patrons. Naitram would deliver three more lusty blows in the opening over, and he would clear the fences seven times in all, going into the boundary a further five times for 82 off 36 balls.
Windward Islands fast bowler Keon Gaston went for 14 in his first over. Jamaal James hit two fours and Gaston conceded six wides. James ended with 26 runs from 18 balls, before being done in, caught behind off the bowling of Shawnil Edward with the score 55-1.
Vernilius Gabriel smacked a quick 17 from 10 balls, dismissed caught behind off the bowling of Windward Islands and Saint Lucia Kings allrounder Shadrack Descarte. Descarte also accounted for Stephen Abraham, but not before Abraham contributed 32 off 22 balls. Down the order, Dornan Edward smacked a quickfire 20 from 11, as the Blasters compiled 230-8 in their 20 overs.
Gaston eventually gort Naitram out, finishing with 3-37 from four overs. Descarte took 4-40, as the Pioneers faced a significant chase.
Their reply got off to the worst possible start, losing Christian Charlery for two in the third over, after the first two overs from Jaden Elibox and Dillan John yielded just one run each.
Charlery’s dismissal brought Descarte to the crease, and he greeted Elibox with two towering sixes. Sabinus Emmanuel gave Dillan John similar treatment, hitting two fours from the next over. Descarte and Emmanuel got the Pioneers ahead of the asking rate by the eighth over, but Descarte lost his wicket for 57 off 20 balls, five fours and five sixes included.
With 134 runs needed from 72 balls, all fell down for the Mo Po men. Dornan Edward removed Emmanuel for 33 from 15 balls, then took Keon Gaston for two. A tight 10th over by Kyle Adonis put paid to the chase
A fine cameo of 29 off 17 balls from overseas player Gian Benjamin threatened to get Pioneers back in the game, but the required run rate kept climbing and wickets kept falling, until the last man went with two balls remaining, and the total on 192.
Dornwn Edward took 3-40, Tyler Sookwa 2-24, and Kymani Sexius 2-26. Though they only had one wicket between them, Jaden Elibox and Dillan John set up the victory with brilliant returns of 0-22 and 1-29 from their combined eight overs.
Despite being on the losing end, Descarte was named player of the match for his four wickets and his knock of 57.
The tournament continues this weekend at the renovated Gros Islet Playing Field.
