CUL DE SAC--General Auto Repairs Spartans is the Prime Distributors Twenty20 champions after grounding the WINAIR Conquerors at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
In the much anticipated final, Spartans won the toss and batted first to post a mammoth 222 for five in 20 overs. Conquerors tamely responded with 126 for eight in the allotted overs.
For Spartans, Captain Kenroy David and Keacy Carty started off in blazing fashion to register 123 for the first wicket in 11.4 overs. The two openers comfortably negotiated the bowlers, although both had their slice of luck towards the end of the partnership.
While David was savage on the balls pitched up to him, Carty pulled and hooked with smooth ease on the eye. The partnership sent an early message to the fielding team that the day was going to be tiring.
However, Lerry Baptiste removed both openers in back-to-back overs. First, he had David caught in the mid wicket boundary by Captain Adelvin Philips for 61 off 32 balls (7x4, 2x6). And then, in Baptiste's next over, he had Carty caught in the same position by the same fielder for 63 off 37 balls (8x4, 1x6).
Left arm spinner Chetram Ram removed Sherwin Peters and Mikyle Louis from St. Kitts in back-to-back overs. He dismissed Peters for nine off six balls (1x4) and Louis for 17 off 10 balls (2x6).
But then Kadeem Philips from Antigua combined with Akeem Charles to end the innings in a flourish. The last five overs went for 73 runs.
The best bowler for Conquerors was Baptiste with two for 25 off four overs. Ram finished with two for 34 off four overs.
In response, Conquerors top order batsmen could not contend with the lightning fast Kian Pemberton from Nevis and guile and skill of left arm spinner Kadeem Philips. And by the end of the tenth over, they were nose-diving at 56 for five.
James was dismissed by Phillips for five off nine balls (1x4), Andre Brown was dismissed by Pemberton for two off three balls, Wasim Mintos was bowled by Phillips for 14 off 10 balls (2x4, 1x6), Baptiste was brilliantly caught by Damion Williams off 14 year old Rudesh Ramraj for six off nine balls and Captain Phillips was also dismissed by Ramraj for 15 off 16 balls.
From 56 for five, chasing 222, the organizers began to write GAR Spartans on the championship trophy. Ashley White with 29 off 11 balls (1x4, 3x6) and Joel Simmons from Nevis with 23 off 17 balls (2x4) dropped a spoon of honey in the tea to make it palatable.
The best bowler for Spartans was Charles with three for 32 in four overs.
For the third place trophy, NAGICO United Cricket Club defeated Masters by six wickets. Iassie Gabriel slammed 46 off 23 balls (7x4, 2x6), Shadrack Descarte hit 34 off 23 balls (3x4, 1x6) and Moreland Le Blanc contributed 27 not out off 16 balls to successfully overhaul 122 made by the Masters in the 18 over per side contest.
For the Masters, Kern Saunders walloped 39 off 22 balls (3x6, 1x4).
The awards ceremony for the Prime Distributors twenty20 tournament will be held at Motorworld Showroom on Sunday, June 23, from 7:00pm. All cricketers and spectators are invited to the semi-formal event.
