CUL DE SAC--Chesney Hughes smashed the first century of the Adam Sanford Cricket4life Twenty20 tourney to secure at least a playoff spot for Anguilla Tigers.
Hughes, a Leeward Islands first-class player, clobbered a whirlwind 138 off just 68 balls as his team posted a monumental 227 without loss in 20 overs against friendly Mad Dogs from US. He clobbered 11 fours and 10 sixes in a display of brutal force against a bowling attack that was sweeter than your favourite pie, and friendlier than the greeters on Front Street.
His opening partner in Montcin Hodge was less brutal against the docile bowling attack when he scored 84 off 53 balls with 10 fours and two sixes.
In response, Mad Dogs scored 106 all out off 19.3 overs. As a team they hit only one six and 11 fours.
Karanjit Singh top scored with 23 off 19 balls. He hit the one six and three fours.
Anguilla won by 121 runs which would have helped their net run rate and chances of securing one of the two playoff spots or advancing straight to the final.
Anguilla Tigers is now the only team with two wins after beating the fully-loaded and favourite Adam Sanford All Stars on the opening day.
According to the rules of the tournament, the team with the most points advances straight to the final and then the second and third placed team will play each other in a playoff on Sunday morning at 10:00am. The final begins at 2:00pm on Sunday.
In the second match yesterday, Combined United was condemned to their second loss when Kalinago Braves played and won their first match of the tourney.
Combined United which is made up of mostly local players, but also a few players from the US, Nevis and St. Kitts. They batted first and posted 159 for nine off 20 overs.
Kalinago Braves which is from Dominica found some faithful supporters as they chipped away clinically at the total, to win by five wickets with 14 balls to spare. Anderson Burton played sensibly for an unbeaten 37 off 33 balls with four fours and one six to seal the vital win.
There were other solid contributions from Kyle Cabey with 33 off 17 balls with six fours, from Captain Kershaski Jno Lewis with 31 off 26 balls with two fours and two sixes and from Kevin James with 20 not out off 17 balls with two fours.
For Combined United, Lassie Gabriel played an attractive Twenty20 innings when he scored 81 off 47 balls with five fours and six sixes. His stroke play was just breath-taking because of the ease he hit the ball for boundaries. However, no one batsman on his team played positively which led to a below-par score after the rapid start.
Quite interesting is that only the General Auto Repairs Spartans and Kalinago Braves could win two matches after the preliminary round, but they come up against each other at 10:00am today. The winner will take a spot in final three teams to advance but the loser could get a spot also if their net run rate is higher than the other teams with one win.
In the other match today, All Stars take on Mad Dogs from 2:00pm.
The Points Standing shows Anguilla Tigers-10 points, Spartans-five points, Kalinago-five points, All Stars, Mad Dogs and Combined United are yet to score a point.
