Villagers Made It Six Out Of Six With Win Over Rival Westbury

Metropolitan Cricket League
By Dervon Wallace
West Indies under-19 batsman Tristann Coleman showed his class in a stroke fill half-century sharing in a century opening stand with former Holmwood Technical Headley Cup all-rounder Sashane Anderson as Villagers continue their recent dominance over many time champions Westbury CC who in past years would defeat Villagers at will.

Captain Cliff Roye (left) poses with Coleman at the interval.

In bright sunshine Westbury captain Clinton Lewis won the toss and elected to take first use of a pitch that would turn out to have something in it for bowlers and batters alike. The former champions lost their first wicket with the score on 15 in the 4th over when some good work from Adams combining with Coleman to have the dangerous Daron Ferguson 11 (11 balls 2×4) run out. It was a decision that didn’t go down well with the Westbury supporters and it was a sign of what to come. Kevin Baugh and Devon Campbell came and went for 16 and 0 respectively as Westbury was in a spot of bother at 71 for 4 when for the umpteen time the talented Javien Thomas 37 (39 balls 3×4 2×6) again showed glimpses of his talent looking in full control of everything going on around him playing a few beautiful shots before in a nonchalant manner tried to be cleaver and was out caught by Steve Massiah who deliberately placed himself at short mid-wicket.

If Westbury was to put up a challenging total a lot would depend on the board shoulder of Barrington Bartley who scored a century in a losing cause the lost time both team met, for unknown reason the USA middle order batsman batted at number 5. After seemingly trying to play himself in and looking for a big one, Bartley 26 (28balls 2×4) was controversially given out caught behind and with emotions riding high a visible upset Bartley quickly controlled himself and to his credit he used his “cult” like status among Westbury supporters to calm them down as they were certainly on edge about the decision.  Horace Porter after being put down on 4 by Leeberth Williamson and survived a very confident LBW appeal to one that pitched in line and both set of players reckoning would’ve missed everything except the middle stump, the lanky middle order batsman rode his luck on his way to a top score of 45 (59balls 4×4 1×6) before he was dismissed and the inning closed at 186 for 8 from allotted 40 overs. Rashard Marshall was the pick of the Villagers bowler with 3 for 22 from 8 overs, Talisman Gordon 2 for 32 and Melroy Kingston 1 for 45.

In reply Villagers showed their depth in batting using their fifth pair of openers in their last 5 games, this time opting to go with the youngsters Coleman and Anderson. The two started out cautiously before breaking loose. Coleman who hails from the parish St Elizabeth in Jamaica the same parish as legendary former USA wicket keeper batsman Carl Wright who ironically his batting and wicket keeping is being compared to was the more aggressor. The flamboyant former Cross Keys High student delighted the crowd with some master stroke play, one was a delivery from Thomas that he hit over mid-wicket clean out the park and would be six on any cricket ground around the world. His inning ended rather tamely for 69 (65balls 4×4 4×6) when he edge down to short third-man. Anderson was joined by Massiah and the latter played a brief cameo before one kept low from the dread locks Cheddie Gayle and disturbed his wood work  as he fell for 22 (19 balls 2×4). Anderson who by now was growing in confident played a few shots of his own to be unbeaten on 77 (106 balls 5×4 1×6) as Villagers made it 6 wins in 6 games to extend their unbeaten run to 28 games in MCL competition dating back to September 30, 2012. Omar Evering finished with 2 for 43 from 5 overs and Gayle 1 for 28 from 4.4 overs. Final scores in the match Westbury 186 for 8 from 40 overs and Villagers 187 for 3 in 32.4 overs

NOTE: Coleman will be heading back to Jamaica to train with the Jamaica Tallawahs in preparation for the second staging of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as one of the youngster called up to the Tallawahs’ training camp.  On the behalf of Villagers Pacesetters, Metropolitan Cricket League, New York Region and Newyorkcricket.com we wish Coleman the best on this great achievement to date.