Gladiola secure bragging rights

BWU Gladiola won their first Barbados Cricket Association Twenty20 Elite/Division One competition, when they defeated Wanderers in the final by 36 runs at Kensington Oval last Saturday afternoon.

The St Philip-based team scored 172 after Wanderers won the toss and invited them to bat. Set a target of 173 for victory, Wanderers were restricted to 136 for the loss of seven wickets.

Man of the Match Renaldo Brathwaite who batted at number four entertained the fair sized crowd at the Oval with a blistering innings of 51 from 40 balls that included three massive sixes. Brathwaite was dropped early in his innings.

Brathwaite capitalized on the opportunity he received and flogged the Wanderers bowlers all over the ground. He and Ashley Nurse shared 55 runs for the fifth wicket from a mere 26 balls. Nurse was in devastating form, stroking 38 not out from 22 balls with three fours and three sixes. Brathwaite was eventually caught at the wicket by Sylvester Moore off leg-spinner Nikolai Charles.

Earlier, Gladiola slipped to 24 for two before left hander Martin Nurse slammed 33 that included three hours and two sizes from off 33 balls. Gladiola raced to 100 in 12.5 overs and posted 150 in 17.2 overs.

Wanderers batsmen were mesmerized by left hand spinner Damario Goodman (the leading bowler in the tournament with 17 wickets) who took three tickets for 19 runs. When they batted, openers Ryshon Williams (23) and Jason Greene (3) posted 33 for the first wicket before Greene was trapped lbw by meduim pacer Kadeem Alleyne in the sixth over.

After Greene’s painful innings ended, Goodman ripped the heart out of Wanderers’ innings, he bowled Williams with the fourth ball of his first over and comprehensively beat and bowled Jonathan Drakes with the final ball of the same over.

At that stage Wanderers were floundering at 38 for three, Greene stuck another deadly blow when he bowled former Barbados captain Kirk Edwards for one, his dismissal left the Dayrell Road, Christ Church-based club struggling at 44 for four in the ninth over.

All-rounder Roshon Primus and captain Diego Stuart added 50 off 6.1 overs for theifth wicket which kept the dreams of the vocal Wanderers’ fans alive. Primus made 39 off 31 balls with three sixes and a four, before he miscued a pull off seamer Korie Miller in the seventeen over and was caught and bowled. Stuart was unbeaten on 37, he faced 27 balls and struck three fours and a six. Alleyne took two wickets for 25 runs and Miller two for 28.

Captain of Gladiola Javon Searles said winning the title was a special moment for the club and attributed their success to the bowlers.

“Our bowlers stood out during the season, we were always able to defend whatever total we scored and put pressure on our opponents,” Searles said.

The victorious captain said he was not surprised that Wanderers invited Gladiola to bat after they won the toss because his opponents’ batting were stronger than their bowling.

He lauded his team and the coach Ryan Nurse and paid a special tribute to Roddy Estwick who assisted Gladiola before he left for New Zealand with the West Indies team.
(CMC)