By Dervon Wallace
A Metropolitan Cricket League (MCL) final doesn’t need any subtext to lift the occasion; even so, the 2016 edition will present one. The showpiece event will see eight times champion Westbury Cricket Club face off with arch rival, three times champion Villagers Pacesetters Social Athletic Club, in the final match of the Clement “Busta” Lawrence Premier League at the cricket friendly Idlewild Park in Rosedale, Queens, NY on Sunday, September 11th, first ball set to bowl off at 11am.
Glen Hall (left) has 3 centuries to his name. Xavier Marshall (right) has so far amassed 830 runs at an average of 83.00 including 4 centuries.
This will be the sixth meeting between these two MCL giants at this stage of the competition. To date Westbury holds the upper hand with three victories in 2001, 2002 and 2007 to the Pacesetters two triumphs in 2013 and 2014. Both teams got to the final in convincing fashion making light work of their semifinal opponents. Westbury brushed aside former champion Progressive C.C. by 9 wickets having embarrassed them for a portray 129 and getting to their target in 17.2 overs. Villagers had an easy day at the park brushing aside first time semifinalist Island Wide C.C. by 197 runs having made a mammoth 355 for 2, of which Xavier Marshall made 186.
Cricket fans are labeling Villagers as the favorite, after they finished the preliminary on top and handed Westbury their only defeat of the season to date. It’s a tag that the Villagers management and players are quick to denounce and state there is no favorite in finals and that Westbury has proven over the years they know how to win championships and it’s no fluke they are the most successful team in the history of the competition.
Fans should be in for a treat as both teams have a number of top quality players on their roaster.
Joseph Brown (left) lead all bowlers with 24 wickets at 17.21 apiece. Tristan Coleman (right) leading run getter with 937 runs at an average of 93.70 including 4 centuries.
Villagers will be led by USA representative Seam bowling all-rounder, George Adams who will be able to choose from discarded West Indies test player Xavier Marshall, former USA captain Richard Staple, former Jamaica wicket-keeper batsman Keith Hibbert, USA batsmen Rashard Marshall, Dennis Evans and Glen Hall. Also available for selection: Sashane Anderson, Dino Chow, Bjorn Brown, Romoy Ricketts, USA under-19 player Keifer Phil and the veteran trio of Melroy Kingston, Talisman Gordon and Trevor Whitick.
Westbury will be led by USA middle order batsman Barrington Bartley, who has a strong contingent to choose from. At his disposal are former West Indies under-19 batsman Tristan Coleman, former Windward Island all-rounder Dennison Thomas, former Jamaica batsman Wayne Cuff, Javien Thomas, Devon Campbell, Linden St Louis, Horace Porter, Chedie Gayle, Breston Reid, Darren Ferguson, Joseph Brown, Juanoy Drysdale and Clinton Lewis. Also available for selection: arguably the league’s most successful captain and Hall of Famer, Ballister McLeish.
To add to all the excitement, this game will see the most cap test umpire, Steve Bucknor as one of the umpire in the middle.
Fact File: Metropolitan Cricket League 40 overs competition winners’ since 1980.
Years CHAMPIONS RUNNERS UP
2015 Lucas Westbury
2014 Villagers Westbury
2013 Villagers Westbury
2012 Westbury Progressive
2011 Villagers Progressive
2010 Progressive Westbury
2009 Cosmos Progressive
2008 Cosmos Progressive
2007 Westbury Villagers
2006 Cosmos Mid Island
2005 Westbury Cosmos
2004 Westbury Progressive
2003 Westbury Spice Island
2002 Westbury Villagers A
2001 Westbury Villagers A
2000 Progressive Pakistan
1999 Cosmos Progressive
1998 Mid Island Cosmos
1997 JSAC Mid Island
1996 Sportsman Excelsior
1995 Sims New York Sportsman
1994 Sportsman Westbury
1993 Sims New York Mid Island
1992 Westbury Sims New York
1991 Sims New York unknown
1990 Sims New York unknown
1989 Sims New York unknown
1988 Sims New York ACS
1987 ACS unknown
1986 ACS unknown
1985 ACS unknown
1984 ACS unknown
1983 ACS unknown
1982 JSAC ACS
1981 JSAC unknown
1980 JSAC unknown
ACS: American Cricket Society
JSAC: Jamaica Social Athletic Club