Parkites crush Endeavour in UWI T20 opener

QUEEN’S PARK made a winning start to the 2019 UWI-UNICOM T20 Tournament yesterday, with an emphatic 49-run result over Endeavour in the opening match of Group A, at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground, St Augustine. The Parkites, seeking their first UWI crown, were buoyed by an impressive all-round performance from man-of-the-match Akeal Hosein who took three wickets and scored 29 runs.

After winning the toss, Queen’s Park opted to bat with former national player Nicholas Alexis getting them off to a flyer.

He made 59 from 36 deliveries with four fours and five towering sixes.

He took apart the opening pair of Junior Bailey and Jonathon Williams, dispatching them over long-on for maximums early on. However, Williams bowled Tion Webster for 10 and Isiah Rajah (17) was stumped by Michael Harry off Kapil Harry to leave him without support.

Alexis eventually perished to Darzus Gopaul to leave the Parkites on 96 for three in the 10th over, allowing Endeavour to get back in the swing of things.

Kapil removed skipper Daron Cruickshank (five) with another stumping and then nabbed youngster Kirstan Kallicharan (four) to leave the Parkites on 108 for five. However, Hosein made a rapid-fire 29 off 24 (two fours, one six) before Williams nabbed him. Marlon Barclay chipped in with 17 (two fours) before Williams claimed him as well.

The favourites got to 169 for eight in their allotted 20 with Kapil ending with three for 20 and Williams notching three for 38 from their full quota.

In response, Endeavour never looked threatening with Terrance Hinds (4/21) crippling their batting line-up.

Endeavour lost their first four batters cheaply, as Hinds and Webster grabbed two apiece, to leave them tottering at 68 for four in the ninth.

Skipper Earnil Ryan was the only batsman to show resistance with 22 (four fours) but Webster ended his stay.

Hosein removed the danger man Michael Harry for 33 (two fours) as he holed out to Alexis. He then got Chris Ramnarine caught and bowled for 10, before trapping Alvin Balroop leg-before for a duck to finish with three for 13.

Hinds returned to clean up the tail with two quick wickets. He had Gopaul (1) playing into Rajah’s hands and then uprooted Bailey’s stumps for a duck. He ended with four for 21, while Webster finished with two for 15 to seal a comfortable win and set up the final match of the night against Merry Boys to see who advanced to the semis.

Summarised scores: QPCC 169/8 (Nicholas Alexis 59, Akeal Hosein 29, Kapil Harry 3/20, Jonathon Williams 3/38) vs Endeavour 120 all out (Michael Harry 33, Earnil Ryan 22, Terrance Hinds 4/21, Akeal Hosein 3/13). Queen’s Park won by 49 runs.