QPCC power into UWI T20 final

QUEEN’S Park Cricket Club (QPCC) once more asserted their dominance on the local cricket scene by steam rolling their way into the final of the 2019 UWI-UNICOM T20 Cricket tournament, on Friday night, at the Sir Frank Worrell Ground, St Augustine. The Parkites registered a comfortable 32-run win over Tobago’s Club Crusoe to move into today’s title-match, which bowls off at the same venue from 6 pm. QPCC will face Prisons or El Socorro Youth Movement, who were battling it out last night in the other semifinal.

The Parkites amassed 193 for five in their allotted 20 overs with the big-hitting Club Crusoe only able to manage 161 for nine. After being sent in to bat, QPCC were buoyed by talismanic opener Tion Webster who smashed 85, intent on continuing his fine form from the group stage where he lit Merry Boys up for an unbeaten 106 as well. His knock came off just 56 balls which included ten fours and three sixes, as he set the pace early on with national player Joshua Da Silva, who notched 50.

They shared the tournament’s highest opening stand of 142 before Da Silva played onto his stumps from Vikash Rampersad in the 14th over. He accounted for five fours and two maximums in his 39-ball knock. Ancil Nedd then made Justin Guillen look amateur in the wicket, bowling the former national opener for one, with Daron Cruickshank then entering with a quickfire 24 (three fours, one six). The duo took proceedings to 179, until Cruickshank skied Jahron Alfred to Chris Pattia to end his 13-ball cameo. Alfred would go on to remove Webster with Yannic Cariah following soon after, run out for two to leave the Parkites with a big total to defend. Alfred was the only bowler who impressed with two for 25 from his four.

After chasing down 182 and 212 in the group stages, Club Crusoe looked confident thanks to prolific opener Mbeki Joseph who made 25 off 14 with five fours. After fellow opener Iraq Thomas was castled by Terrance Hinds for six in the opening over, Joseph and Alfred pushed the score to 44 in the fifth to keep pace, only for Alfred to edge Webster behind to Da Silva. This effectively killed off the chase with Jason Persaud entering the crease and making a couple of crucial decisions that lost the game. Persaud held his ground and ran out Joseph when he could have sacrificed his wicket to allow the burly opener to continue his innings and then proceeded to linger at the crease, wasting precious dot balls.

When Akeal Hosein eventually bowled him for five, Club Crusoe were no longer scoring at 10 an over and the momentum seemed to be lost. Chris Pattia would try to reignite the innings with 17 but Isiah Rajah removed his stumps with the score at 99, leaving the Tobago outfit desperate to keep wickets in hand. The most puzzling decision they made came by sending in Joshua James lower down the order when his explosive nature was needed up top, especially after making 61 in the prelims. He made 49 from 31 with three fours and four sixes to leave everyone wondering why he was held back. None of his partners would enter double figures again as Rajah mopped up the tail with a stunning three for 17 from four. Hinds would end with two for 33 as Webster garnered the man-of-the-match plaudits to move the Parkites a step closer to this elusive title. Admission will be $40 at the gate, with half off for students and staff.

Summarised scores:

QPCC 193/5 (Tion Webster 85, Joshua Da Silva 50, Jahron Alfred 2/25) vs. Club Crusoe 161/9 (Joshua James 49 not out, Mbeki Joseph 25, Jahron Alfred 25, Isiah Rajah 3/17, Terrance Hinds 2/33). QPCC won by 32 runs.