Barbados: Fire Cup Knockout Comments from Keith Holder (30 Nov 1997)

30 Nov 1997

Fire Cup Knockout Comments

Keith Holder

BALL-TAMPERING is nothing new but when allegations against a player and by extension a team hit a tournament at a crucial stage, many eyebrows are raised.

What allegedly took place at Black Rock last Sunday in a Barbados Fire Cup semifinal match between United Carlton and Big B Spartan has thrown the tournament into confusion.

Carlton, who lost by 31 runs, have protested and the ball is now in the hands of the Barbados Cricket Association Board of Management following a hiccup on Thursday when the wrong committee was put in place to hear the complaint.

According to CarltonÕs legal representative, Vernon Smith, the matter should have been heard by the Complaints and Disputes Committee and not the Fire Cup Committee.

"They started wrong when they referred the matter to the Fire Cup Committee. They are not competent to hear the matter," Smith said.

"We are not threatening anyone. Once the procedures are correct and proper, we have no problem," he added.

One expects the board to handle the issue efficiently when they meet on Wednesday and hopefully the final will be played on the scheduled date, December 14, or before the end of the year. Hopefully!

Never in the history of the tournament which started in 1975 has it been extended into the following year.

For those who have not been following the issue, Carlton are protesting that "after approximately six overs, umpire Tunley Franklyn summoned United Carlton opening batsmen Chris King and Jason Clarke together and informed them that ... had tampered with the ball".

"Franklyn then called the match referee Hartley Reid onto the field and after a discussion with him, Franklyn returned to his position and notified King and Clarke that the ball was being changed."

Enough of that for now.

On the field of play, Sports & Games YMPC ensured their place in the final for the second time in three seasons and the fourth all told with a 32-run win over ESA Field Pickwick at Beckles Road.

It was a bit disappointing that despite the pitch was covered which is mandatory for the semifinals and final, it was not condusive to strokeplay.

In the circumstances, some of the Pickwick batsmen were found wanting. Chasing 165 for victory in 40 overs, the Kensingtonians slipped from 53 without loss to 132 in 36.1 overs.

Virtually everyone would have expected the YMPC spinners to dominate but the bowler who caught the eye was medium-pacer Orion Bostic, better known for his batting.

Bowling medium-pace from the northern end, Bostic dropped into an excellent line and length and grabbed the wickets of Rondell Yearwood, Mike Matthews and Ryan Hinds Ð not a bad trio.

He ended with three for 13 off his allotted eight overs and along with a knock of 17, was named joint Man-of-the-Match with teammate, opener Adrian Jones who hit 50.

It was an almost similar situation at Black Rock. Spartan totalled 158 for seven off 40 overs and then found themselves under pressure as Carlton raced to 54 before a wicket fell.

But then spinners Hendy Springer and Dave Marshall took over and with assistance from Jeffrey Mascoll, the home side crumbled.

Summarised scores:

At Beckles Road: YMPC 164 all out in 39.4 overs (Adrian Jones 50, W. Reid 22; M. Matthews 4/19, R. Hinds 3/34). Pickwick 132 all out in 36.1 overs (R. Yearwood 25, A. Grant 23, H. Wallace 22; O. Bostic 3/13,. YMPC won by 32 runs. Man-of-the-Match: Adrian Jones and Orion Bostic.

At Black Rock: Spartan 158/7 in 40 overs (J. Mascoll 42, M. Redman 36; H. Broomes 2/21). Carlton 127 all out in 36.3 oversÊ(C. King 29, J. Clarke 26; H. Springer 4/17, D. Marshall 3/21, J. Mascoll 2/20). Spartan won by 31 runs. Man-of-the-Match: Jeffrey Mascoll.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)