Voyagers upset last year’s losing finalists Guardians by 65 runs to set up a date with Settlers in the final of the BIM 10 Cricket 2023 on Sunday at the Desmond Haynes Oval.
After rising from the bottom of the standings at the halfway stage, Voyagers will look to unseat the defending champions who flattened Titans in the first semifinal..
On a day mainly dominated by bowlers, Settlers’ pugnacious batter Kadeem Alleyne spanked 86 off just 28 balls, out of a total of 127 for 5, after Settlers won the toss in the first semifinal.
Pacers Dario Cumberbatch and Gavin Moriah then dismantled the Titans’ batting, snaring three wickets each for two and 22 runs respectively, to limit them to 62 for 9 from 10 overs.
Voyagers, who beat Guardians in Friday’s last group stage match, opted to bat and fought their way to a modest 87 for 4, with opening batsman Akeem Springer again leading the way with a top score of 23.
All-rounder Giovante Depeiza supported with 22 while pacer Gary Austin, with the wickets of JaiBari Yarde and Dwayne Smith with successive balls in the third over, finished with two wickets for nine runs in two overs of sustained pace.
When Guardians responded, they lost at least one wicket in each of the first six overs to be left floundering on a hopeless 32 for nine.
After pacer Amari Goodridge and spinner Giavonte Depeiza made the first incisions into the Guardians’ batting, Johan Layne sliced through the middle order, snapping up three wickets from four balls in his first over, the third of the innings.
Another young quick, Dre Springer, chipped in with two scalps in his first over, before Layne came back to claim the last wicket to cap an outstanding return of 4 for eight from 1.3 overs.
Alleyne, scorer of the only century ever recorded in the two tournaments staged so far, went on the rampage to bludgeon a total of 10 maximums and three boundaries off the hapless Titans attack.
The new ball burst by Cumberbatch and Moriah, quickly left Titans hobbling at 13 for 2 at the first over, 15 for 4 at the second and 22 for 6 by the end of the fourth.
There was to be no recovery.
Today’s final is slated to bowl off at 2 p.m. and Cricket West Indies President, Dr. Kishore Shallow is listed to be among hundreds of spectators expected to attend. (GH)Â
Summarised scores:Â
Settlers 127-5 in 10 overs (Kadeem Alleyne 86 (28b 3×4 10×6), D. Richards 16, K. Wickham 14; R. Reifer 2-23) Titans 62-9 in 10 overs (K.Harte 19, A. Nurse 16; D. Cumberbatch 3-2, G. Moriah 3-22) Settlers won by 65 runs.Â
Voyagers 87-4 in 10 overs (A. Springer 23, G. Depeiza 22, J. Grosvenor 12 n. o, J. Yarde 10; G. Austin 2-9) Guardians 42 in 7.3 overs (Johann Layne 4-8, D. Springer 2-9, A. Goodridge 2-11, G. Depeiza 2-13) Voyagers won by 45 runs.
