Vincy Premier T10 League: Rangers bags last-ball thriller, Divers makes semis

La Soufriere Hikers defeated Fort Charlotte Strikers by nine wickets, while the Botanic Gardens Rangers clinched a last-ball victory vs Grenadine Divers .

File image of Kesrick Williams, who failed with the bat on the last day of the league stage.

Botanic Garden Rangers finished third in the league stage of the Vincy Premier T10 League after clinching a last-ball victory against Grenaldines Divers on Friday.

Despite losing the contest, the Divers made it to the semifinals as the Dark View Explorers lost its final group match.

Romano Pierre and Asif Hooper came out to open for the Divers but the top-order faltered yet again. Divers lost Pierre (3) and in-from Alex Samuel for a duck to Kenneth Dember in the same over which saw the Divers reeling at one stage.

Shem Browne joined Wayne Harper in the next over as Hooper was caught behind for eight off Romario Bibby. However, both Browne and Harper, restored stability for the batting side by hitting a flurry of boundaries to take the score to 60/3 after eight overs.

The Divers' bid for a fighting total received a major boost in the ninth over, bowled by Bibby, when Browne and Harper smashed 20 runs. Eventually, the side finished at 87/6. Harper scored 28 and while Browne was dismissed for 29.

Hyron Shallow and Oziko Williams walked out to open the innings for the Rangers but were unable to give a strong start as the latter fell for a duck on the last ball of the first over. Atticus Browne's stay at number three ended shortly after as the Rangers found itself in a spot of bother at 11/2 in two overs.

Kenneth Dember, despite wickets falling at the other end, continued to keep the Rangers ship afloat with timely hits to the fence. With five runs required of the final over, Rangers squeezed over the line in the final delivery with Dember remaining not-out on 45.

-Hikers finish league stage with big win-

Earlier in the day, La Soufriere Hikers defeated Fort Charlotte Strikers by nine wickets in a rain-curtailed game.

Batting first, the Strikers got off to a mild start as its opener, Sealroy Williams fell in the second over.

Ronald Scott came to the team's rescue with a 16-ball 27, laced with two fours and sixes, which helped the Strikers post a modest total of 81/5 after 10 overs.

The Hikers looked comfortable from the onset of the chase. Wicketkeeper-batsman Salvan Browne had a new opening partner in Camarlo Cain. The pair put on 18 runs for the first wicket before the rain interruption after 2.1 overs. The revised target for the batting side was 42 from five overs.

Browne (10) smashed a boundary upon resumption but was caught of the next ball. Dillon Douglas came in to bat at number three, with his side needing 18 from 15 balls.

Cain (12) and Douglas (18) took the Hikers over the line inside four overs. With this victory, the Hikers finished the group stage with 14 points.

-Breakers beat Explorers-

Opting to bat first, Salt Pond Breakers started strong, courtesy a 50-run partnership between Sunil Ambris (21) and Kadir Nedd (21). Delorn Johnson's 14 towards the end of the innings helped the Breakers put up 83/6 after 10 overs. Lindon James and Sealron Williaams picked two wickets each.

The Explorers, which had gotten a lifeline after Divers was beaten in its last group match, needed 83 runs to qualify for the semis.

Delorn Johnson and Javid Harry started off with great discipline, conceding just eight runs off the first two overs. Kody Horne departed in the third over for 13. Shamon Hooper (6) and skipper Lindon James (9) were also sent packing soon after and the Explorers required 43 runs to win from 24 balls.

The Explorers, eventually, fell short by 20 runs, meaning the Divers qualified for the semis.  On the other hand, the Breakers, despite being tied at 14 points with the Hikers, finished at the top of the table with a better net run-rate.

 

Semifinals  match-ups: Salt Pond Breakers vs Grenadines Divers La Soufriere Hikers vs Botanic Garden Rangers