WI local: Birch is top Amateur

Division 1 cricketer Owen Birch won the Bajan Man-Of-The-Series award as he helped The Boatyard Xl to the team championship in the annual Pro/Am Cricket Festival which ended on Thursday with a closing ceremony at the Coach House.

Birch, the captain of Cockspur Wanderers in the Courts/Suzuki Division 1 competition, scored 197 runs in what was basically a bowler's tournament due to the persistent rain, particularly in the first week.

He also pouched eight victims behind the stumps.

Birch won the award just ahead of his team-mate and former Wanderers captain Hendy Bryan, who scored a total of 79 runs and took 12 wickets.

The champions were captained by former England Test batsman Mark Ramprakash.

The other members of the team were Tim Munton, Rob Bailey, Julian Hill, Paul Finlan, Stuart Finlan, Ian Ross, Geoff Deane, Ricky Clarke, Suliemen Benn and Dave Marshall.

The Boatyard Xl finished with 20 points, ahead of Bill Athey's Coach House XI with 14. Old Brigand & Silver Springs, led by Steve Rhodes earned ten points, The Caribbean Home Insurance Company Combined Schools six, Keith Medlycott's Life of Barbados Xl six, and the Pizzaz BCL Xl four.

For the second consecutive year the England Xl won the Virgin Atlantic Trophy after a victory over the BCA Xl, and manager of RC Barbados Tours Ricky Clarke believes there are serious lessons to be learned from the exercise.

Clarke said the England team was stronger in the bowling department than in the batting while Barbados had a well-balanced unit.

However, he added, the Barbados batsmen failed to assert their authority.

"Our batsmen were not in a position to get away any of the England bowlers.

"They (England) were able to bowl a straight line and length which is always required at one-day level."

He emphasised the need for discipline, noting that it was a vital ingredient for success and could only come from playing consistently at the higher level.

Clarke, whose company organises the Pro/Am Festival in collaboration with English company Blade, was impressed with the batting of Dale Richards.

"Unfortunately, he did not have enough support around him," he said.