Merry Boys blaze to victory

MERRY BOYS set up a do-or-die clash with North rivals Queen's Park yesterday as they registered their first win in the 2019 UWI-UNICOM T20 Cricket Tournament at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine. After QPCC beat Endeavour in the opening fixture, last year's semi-finalist Merry Boys followed suit in the second match with an easy nine-wicket win over the same opponent. The result left the evening's final fixture as the decider for who would win the group and advance to the semis.

Endeavour won the toss and batted first, only to limp to 108 all out in 18.2 overs. They got off to a blistering start before losing their first wicket at 34 in the fifth over. Kapil Harry made 18 but after cutting a couple fours off the experienced Javed Ramdhanie, the spinner returned to shatter his stumps. Ramdhanie would then pick up captain Earnil Ryan for 12, nicking to Uthman Mohammed. Keshawn Guevara (27) was then removed by Rishaad Harris after blazing four fours and a six. Ramdhanie grabbed his third wicket, claiming Andy Alexander (1) who placed his shot straight into Mohammed's waiting hands.

Michael Harry chipped in with 19 but with the score languishing on 90 for six after 15 overs, Endeavour quickly capitulated. Nathaniel McDavid would close off proceedings amid a couple of silly run outs, bowling Junior Bailey for one and claiming Sachin Sooker LBW for duck. Jonathon Williams was left unbeaten on 15 but man-of-the-match Ramdhanie (three wickets for nine runs with one maiden from his four overs) and McDavid (two for five) had already done the damage.

In their turn at the crease, Merry Boys showed no mercy. Mario Belcon, another veteran on the domestic circuit, opened with Reynaldo Sammy and put on a clinic of shots. Belcon made 24 off 22 with three fours before he pulled Bailey with a mistimed shot into the hands of Ryan at square. They set the tempo with a stand of 35 when Belcon departed in the fifth, allowing Sammy and wicketkeeper Leonardo Julien to cut loose.

They were particularly harsh on Darzus Gopaul, who went for 28 from his two overs, and Kapil Harry, who was hammered for 32 from his three. Sammy ended on 40 not out with three boundaries and a six over mid-off at the latter's expense, while Julien smashed an unbeaten 41 from 31. He cracked three fours and took both sixes off Gopaul at long-off to see his side home in 12.4 overs.

Summarised scores: Endeavour 108 all out (Keshawn Guevara 27, Michael Harry 19, Jonathon Williams 15 not out, Javed Ramdhanie 3/9, Nathaniel McDavid 2/5) vs Merry Boys 109/1 (Leonardo Julien 41 not out, Reynaldo Sammy 40 not out, Mario Belcon 24). Merry Boys won by 9 wickets.