Gayle congratulated by teammates after claiming the wicket of Durrel Forrest.
By Dervon Wallace
Half centuries from Barrington Bartley and Jamie Merchant backed up by a superb spell of fast-medium bowling from Cheddie Gayle propelled former champions Westbury Cricket Club to a comprehensive demolishing of a hopeless New Hope Cricket Club in Metropolitan Cricket League Clement “Busta” Lawrence Premier League on Sunday August 9, 2015 in Philadelphia.
Asked to take first strike on a pitch that continues to raise questions, Westbury found themselves at 48 for 2 in the ninth over with both openers Javein Thomas 7 and Tristan Coleman 23 (32 balls 2×4 1×6) back in the pavilion. It was soon 51 for 3 when Derron Ferguson was adjudged LBW to a fired up Durrel Forrest. In came the prolific Bartley to join Merchant and the pair restored parity sharing in a 116 runs partnership from 112 balls before Merchant 68 (55 balls 5×4 4×6) was caught by Shane Ferguson off the bowling of Kadeem Haughton. Bartley 71 (74 balls 5×4 4×6)was next to go also caught by Haughton this time off the bowling of Kirk Waysome but not before he added 61 with the reliable Devon Campbell who made 38 (32 balls 3×4 2×6). Dennison Thomas 25 (23 balls 2×4) also made useful contribution as the inning folded at 276 for 7 from the allotted 40 overs.
Waysome was the pick of the bowlers finishing with 2 for 29 from 8 overs, there was 2 wickets each for Forrest and Marcelo Brooks 2 for 46 and 2 for 61 respectively as Haughton finish with 1 for 41.
In reply New Hope started positively with openers Haughton and N. Benjamin posting 45 in 6 overs until it became the Gayle show as he ripped through the New Hope batting line up in a well-executed spell of fast-medium swing bowling, on his way to his first fifer in the process claiming a hat-trick.
Gayle elated after claiming hat-trick.
Haughton 24 (18 balls 1×4 2×6) became Gayle’s first victim caught by Merchant, he then clean bowl former USA all-rounder Forrest for a first ball duck and next ball when wicket-keeper Coleman gobbled up Andre Campbell to give him his hat-trick he could be seen running and jumping for joy and at one point acted like he was going to backflip but thought better of it. The dreadlocks seamer accounted for the wickets of Benjamin bowled for 17 (25 balls 2×4) and completed his fifer when he had Brooks caught by the veteran Ferguson. Norman Malcolm with 23 (67 balls 3×4) was the only other batsman to get into double figures with extras accounting for 17 when the inning ended at 108 in 28.4 overs.
Gayle figures read 8 overs 1 maiden 30 runs 5 wickets, Ballister McLeish finished with 2 for 7 from 4 overs, J Thomas 2 for 10 from 1.4 overs and the normally economical Linden St Louis 1 for 41 from 5 overs.
Final scores: Westbury 276 for 7 and New Hope 108 all out, Westbury winning by 168 runs to reclaim the lead at the top of the standing.