Metropolitan Cricket League
By Dervon Wallace
Defending champions Villagers Pacesetters made light work of Spice Island CC when both teams met last Sunday in the Metropolitan Cricket League Clement “Busta” Lawrence Premier League competition at Marine Park Cricket field in Brooklyn.
Talisman Gordon ripped through Spice Island batting attack taking 4 for 14.
After winning the toss and choosing to take first strike Spice Island were in trouble from as early as the second over and never recovered to be dismiss for 114 in 33.4 overs with Nash Jones 35 (78 balls 2×4) top scoring. Captain Glen Phillips chipped in with 29 (37 balls 1×4) and Kenneth Hopkins 10 (15 balls 1×4) the only batsmen to get into double figures and extras a healthy 22.
Talisman Gordon with 4 for 14 from 6.4 overs was the leading wicket taker as George Adams, Rashard Marshall and Leeberth Williamson finished with 2 wickets each.
In reply Villagers rushed to their target in 16.4 overs. Steve Massiah who celebrated his birthday the previous day seems he had left-over cake at home that he was in a rush to get home for and played some delightful stroke making a quick fire 48 (28 balls 10×4). The inform Richard Staple who has being nursing a shoulder injury continue to show why he’s one of the most naturally gifted batsman to grace the Tri State scoring his fourth consecutive half-century to be unbeaten on and even 50 (44 balls 6×4) as Villagers reached 116 for 2. Jimmy Clarke and Roger Charles 1 for 33 and 1 for 10 respectively were the lone wicket taker for Spice Island.
Villagers and Westbury to clash:
Villagers Pacesetters will put their 26 game unbeaten run on the line when they face their arch rival in former champion Westbury Cricket Club at Westbury High School on Sunday June 29, 2014 with game time schedule for 12:30pm @ 1 Post Ave, Old Westbury NY 11568.
Villager who’s last defeat came at the hands of Westbury on September 30, 2012 in the semifinals of the twenty20 and ironically their only slip up last season was Westbury rallying from the jaws of defeat to tie the now abandon 35 overs Challenge Cup will start as favorite but Captain Cliff Roye and his troops will most certainly knows there is never an easy game when these 2 giants face-off.
Roye will have a host of talent to choose from led by Richard Staple, Steve Massiah, Rashard Marshall, Melroy Kingston, George Adams, Talsiman Gordon and Romoy Rickets along with young excited West Indies youths batsman Tristann Coleman who last represented the Caribbean at the under-19 Cricket world cup earlier this year.
Westbury in the meantime will be led by former Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) senior cup captain and Jamaica senior trials invitee Clinton Lewis who will have USA middle order batsman Barrington Bartley to call on along with Javien Thomas, Cheddie Gayle, Linden St Louis, Dennison Thomas, and the veteran trio of USA Cricket Hall of Famer Balister McLeish, Devon Campbell and Darren Ferguson.