Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
CUL DE SAC--MNO Spartanz continued their dominance of the Prime Pepsi Cup with a well-calculated eight wicket win over KFC Twisters at Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
The win placed the Spartanz in an unconquerable first place of the PRIME PEPSI cup table with 18 points and still one more match to play. NAGICO United Cricket Club, which has completed the preliminary round, is in second place with 17 points.
The Spartanz convincingly chased 119 for the loss of only two wickets with seven balls to spare against the Twists. Keacy Carty anchored the run chase with 49 not out off 65 balls with four fours, while Dameon Williams was left not out on 26 off 23 balls with two fours.
Carty and opening partner Moreland Le Blanc kept the chase on track with a 61-run partnership in just over 10 overs. Le Blanc was bowled off the inside edge for 25 off 24 balls with two fours.
His departure cleared the way for Williams, who immediately injected an aggressive approach towards the target. In the end, Spartanz overhauled the target without a sweat and much bother.
For the Twisters, Alvin Prescod top scored with 40 off 58 balls (2x4, 2x6). The main wicket takers for the Spartanz were Jean Rene Belizar 4-0-19-2 and Captain Kenroy David 3-0-24-2.
On Sunday morning, NAGICO plundered the Masters by 91 runs. The winners posted 193 for four in 20 overs, to which, Masters replied with 102 for five in 20 overs.
Stephen Evans stroked 86 off 54 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Captain Romain Doodnauth 58 off 42 balls with six fours and one six added valuable support towards the target.
In reply, the Masters crawled to 102 with Keith Carty 37 off 62 balls (6x4) and Presley Arnaud 32 off 33 balls (5x4).
Lionel Ritchie with two for 11 was the outstanding bowler for the winners.
On Saturday afternoon, NAGICO was gifted a win over Future Champs, who squandered a promising start in the first innings of the match and then dropped crucial catches in the second innings of the match.
Opening batsmen Troy Toney and Michael Lewis posted 90 runs in quick time, but the lower order failed to capitalise on the promising start and was restricted for 136. Toney scored 62 off 60 balls (4x4, 6x2) and Lewis 56 off 45 balls (7x4).
Doodnauth grabbed two for 24 in four overs with his left arm spin.
NAGICO found themselves in a spot of bother and had many anxious moments in the run chase, but the youth team was unable to keep on the pressure on the more experienced team.
With Doodnauth 28, John Luke Lamboudiere 25 and Sheldon Le Blanc and Anil Persaud 14 apiece, all back in the pavilion and only 118 runs on the board, NAGICO was bailed out of jail by Ritchie 26 off 23 balls (2x4) and Boodram Sookram 16 off seven balls (3x4).
The tournament continues on May 2 when Future Champs take on WINAIR Conquerors and on May 3 when Twisters do battle against Future Champs from 10:00am and from 2:00pm when Masters match skills with Spartanz.
With Spartanz and NAGICO grabbing the first two semi-final spot, all the other four teams will strive to make a claim for the other two spots from this weekend.
