In a gripping Minor League Cricket T20 encounter at Church St. Park on Sept. 6th, 2024, the Morrisville Raptors pulled off a narrow 4-wicket victory over the Ft. Lauderdale Lions. Chasing 153 in their 20 overs, the Raptors relied on a calm and composed knock from Christopher Barnwell, who anchored the innings with an unbeaten 45 off 42 deliveries, guiding his team to victory on the penultimate ball of the match.
Ft. Lauderdale Lions, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted 152/4 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was built around Kevin Stoute’s steady 54* off 42 balls, with crucial late contributions from Ravendra Persaud, who struck a brisk 27 off 16 balls. Despite early promise, the Lions couldn’t capitalize fully on the solid platform, as Morrisville’s bowlers, led by Abhiram Bolisetty (2/15) and Aditya Gupta (1/24), kept the run rate in check.
Morrisville’s chase started with fireworks, as John Campbell smashed 40 off just 22 balls, including three sixes. However, Isaiah Rajah’s disciplined bowling (3/11) rattled the top order, leaving the Raptors at 60/3 inside six overs. The middle order then steadied the innings, with Barnwell’s experience proving invaluable. Supported by Raj Nannan (26 off 26 balls), Barnwell paced the chase perfectly despite regular wickets falling at the other end.
In a tense final over, the Raptors needed just three runs with four wickets in hand. Ryan Wiggins fell to Adam Khan, but Barnwell and Abhiram Bolisetty saw the team over the line, finishing at 153/6 in 20 overs.
This thrilling match was defined by Barnwell’s all-round brilliance, which earned him the well-deserved Man of the Match award. His maturity and ability to control the game under pressure played a pivotal role in securing Morrisville Raptors’ win.