Barbados: Police Victory Seems Sure (7 November 1998)

7 November 1998

Barbados: Police Victory Seems Sure

The Barbados Nation

Police's greatest threat could come from within their own ranks when they clash with BCL at Blenheim in the 11th series of the Courts/Suzuki Division One cricket competition today.

The lawmen, on top of the table with 54 points, will need to guard against complacency in taking on a BCL side which have done little of note this season and are, not surprisingly, all alone at the bottom of the table with just eight points.

Police wiped away Banks with clinical ease in the last series. While many of Banks' problems could be blamed on the soft pitch on the second day, whatever the conditions at Blenheim, Police should be confident of coming out on top of a BCL side, too dependent on veteran Winston Herbert.

Few of the other players have shown the consistency and class necessary to perform at this level and with the two leading Police bowlers, Emerson Sealy and Sylvester Louis, both with more than 50 wickets already, BCL are facing a tough assignment.

Cable & Wireless BET, trailing the leaders by four points, will no doubt be pressing for an outright win against United Carlton. Carlton, in sixth position on 35 points, will be seeking to narrow the gap at the top.

Both teams have produced good cricket this season, though Carlton have been less consistent. If both teams play to their potential and conditions are dry, an outright result is unlikely.

Of great significance is the fact that Cable & Wireless will be without their two top batsmen, Floyd Reifer and the in-form Courtney Browne, who are on tour with the West Indies "A" team.

Pacer Corey Collymore has been creating a favourable impression with his lively pace over the last two series. Without Reifer and Browne the batting line-up of Cable &Wireless will be severely tested against Barbados fast bowler Hendy Broomes and the left-arm spin of Alan Rogers.

Big B Spartan will be trying to halt their losing streak after painful losses to Mount Gay Maple and CHIC Combined Schools North. They travel to Dayrells Road to play a Cockspur Wanderers side, no doubt cock-a-hoop after frustrating ICB Empire in the last series. The inconsistent Wanderers team are in 12th place on 16 points but they have shown they are prepared to fight.

Empire, fifth on 36 points, wasted a golden opportunity to close in on the leaders when they fell two runs short of defeating Wanderers last Saturday. The men from Bank Hall will be away to Banks (22 points) at the Brewery, keen to make amends for last week's blunder.

With victories in the last two series, Maple seem to be making a last ditch dash for the title. Trailing Police by 16 on 38 points, such an occurrence seems unlikely but full points against the Schools North (21 points) at Ashton Hall could create more interest at the top if Police and Cable & Wireless falter. It will be no easy task for the St. James team with the schools full of confidence after an historic victory over Spartan in the previous round.

In the other matches, CHIC Schools South will entertain Sports & Games YMPC at Foundation, while BNB St. Catherine will be at home to ESA Field Pickwick.

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