Country feeling to Fire Shield (28 June 1999)

28 June 1999

Country feeling to Fire Shield

The Barbados Nation

The semifinal line-up of the Barbados Fire and Commercial Shield has a predictable rustic look about it after yesterday's quarterfinals.

St. Thomas-based champions BRC, will have to overcome Carib Conrad Hunte Club of St. Andrew, if they hope to reach a second successive final.

In the other elimination, Pine Hill Dairy St. John Cultural will oppose the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme.

BRC advanced yesterday at the expense of YMCA who succumbed by four wickets; Conrad Hunte went to St. Lucy and thrashed Brathwaite's Construction Lord's by 61 runs and in a close encounter, St. John Cultural beat Texaco by 11 runs and the BDF Sports Programme squeezed home by 12 runs over Her Majesty's Prison Officers (HMPO).

At St. Clement's: A superb allround performance by veteran allrounder DaCosta Atherley carried Carib Conrad Hunte into the semifinals.

A boisterous crowd watched as Atherley struck an unbeaten 83 in his team's innings of 211 for six off 38 overs. Then he opened the bowling and picked up three for 39 with the home team Brathwaite's Construction Lord's 150 off 33.1 overs.

Atherley came to the crease with his team 33-2 in the ninth over. He smashed nine fours and three sixes off 92 balls in an authoritative innings lasting 126 minutes.

He was also quickly among the wickets breaking the Lord's opening partnership with 15 runs on the board.

The home team nevertheless raced to 101-2 in the 18th over but the dismissal of topscorer Douglas Johnson and the introduction of offspinner Sherlock Ramsay sent the last eight wickets crashing for 49 runs.

Johnson played some crisp shots in his 48 off 45 deliveries before he chased a wide ball to be caught behind.

Lord's cause was not helped when former Banks Division 1 player Junior Collymore was spectacularly caught by Peter "Ricky Ponting" Headley when he was on 25.

Ramsay took three for 27. - Louis Linton

At Pinfold Street: Former Division 1 players Arnold Gilkes and Orlando Greaves built a sensible 60-run fifth-wicket partnership as championsBRCdefeated YMCA by four wickets.

BRC were looking shaky at 57 for four, chasing 144, when Gilkes and Greaves repaired the early damage that was done by opening bowler Gregory Blenman who took a wicket in each of his first two overs.

Man-of-the-match Gilkes struck eight threes in his topscore of 35, before he was caught by Melvin Knight at midwicket off David Harris' bowling.

Greaves scratched around but blossomed out to remain unbeaten on 31.

The St. Thomas team, boasting no fewer than four former Division 1 players, won the toss and sent hosts YMCA in on a hard pitch.

YMCA lost two wickets for 17 and were in further trouble at 80 for five at the end of the 20 overs. It was a struggle thereafter.

Captain Wayne Holder was the leading scorer with 29. McDonald Lowe took three for 40 for BRC. - Ancille Inniss.

At Pinfold Street: YMCA 143 all out in 36.2 overs; W. Holder 29, P. Cheltenham 22, V. Hinkson 12, M. Knight 20, D. Waldron 2-30, M. Lowe 3-40. BRC 144-6 (E. Watson 25, E. King 23, A. Gilkes 35, O. Greaves 31, D. Small 13; G. Blenman 2-24. YMCA won by four wickets.

At St. Clement's: Carib Conrad Hunte 211-6 off 38 overs (D. Atherley 83, S. Ramsay 35, D. Richards 21, J. Vaughn 14, J. Phillips 18; J. Collymore 2-38. Brathwaite's Construction Lord's 150 in 33.1 overs ( D. Johnson 48, J, Collymore 25, S. Broomes 22, A. Murphy 15; S. Ramsay 3-37, D. Atherley 3-37, J. Best 3-32). Conrad Hunte won by 61 runs.

At Gall Hill: PHD St John Cultural 206-8 off 36 overs, (Thelbert Brathwaite 75, Anthony Harewood 51, P. Rowe 19, H. Brathwaite 16; E. Woodroffe 2-20, D. London 2-34, N. Alleyne 2-36). Texaco 195-6 in 36 overs (F. Smith 53, D. Clarke 38, D. Kirton 34, W. Belle 15, D. Moore 11; Robert Seale 2-27, T. Brathwaite 2-46. Man of the match: T. Brathwaite. St. John Cultural won by 11 runs.

At Paragon: BDF Sports Programme 157-9. HMPO 145. BDF won by 12 runs. No other details available.

Source :: The Barbodas Nation