ST THOMAS CRICKET
“That [promoting sport] is the remit of the JCA, which is armed with a marketing department. Notwithstanding, we continue to reach out to business interests and friends for support,” Gordon stated.
He said while the business community has been largely unresponsive to the call of St Thomas cricket, the wider community has been the beacon of support from the cheering stands and in other unpublicised forms.
“I am a proud son of the parish; hence, my commitment to support the parish and the cricket community. I have invested a pretty penny over time to provide hope and inspiration to the youths and wider population.
“The cricketing community support is unquestionable. They follow the team around and become really depressed and agitated whenever the team struggles; they also contribute in other ways unknown to most,” Gordon shared.
Even without limited, broadbased corporate backing, the parish’s Senior Cup team has performed creditably over the years, coming close to the title on a few occasions. Lifting the crown is an ambition that continues to burn within the organisation.
“We are about eight on the scale of success, with 10 being the highest, our strategic winning the Senior
our grade, although we were able to get players into the national and international considering objectives.
Cup undermined
Not teams. The welfare of players
remains a major challenge,” Gordon said.
“We have done well, and we have rated consistently in the top four best teams in the
country during my tenure — graduating from a that shows up short for
—
team scheduled fixtures in the past and that is commendable,” he added.
Even as St Thomas has established itself as a producer and exporter of cricketing talent, equally, it has pulled big-name talent to the greens of Goodyear Oval, the base of the parish’s cricketing operations.
“Players migrate to Kingston largely for jobs and those who are not good enough to make the team. The reverse is true as players are begging to be a part of the system, as the shared experience is novel and fulfilling.
“Importantly, it [playing for St Thomas] provides a conducive opportunity to transition to the national teams. What we have is a structure, culture and supporting mechanism.
“Players such as Carlton Baugh Jr, Paul Palmer Sr, Bryan Murphy, Devon Thomas, Tamar Lambert, Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Sanjay Brown, Jamie Trenchfield, Jowayne Robinson, Denver Pasley, Omar Brooks, Kashane
Roberts, Gavon Brown, Keno Wallace, Christie Jones, Gavin Tonge, among others, all with international and national exposure, certainly lifted the profile of the parish and position it as one of the premier teams locally,” Gordon said.
Looking back, the native of Danver’s Pen thinks his tenure was “impactful”, but prefers to
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Zimbabwe Captain Brendan Taylor paid tribute to Pakistan after the tourists took total control on the second day of the second Test at Harare Sports Club yesterday, outclassing the home side with both bat and ball to take a huge step towards sealing a 2-0 series victory.
Zimbabwe were 52 for four at the close in reply to Pakistan’s 510 for eight declared, 458 runs behind.
After remaining reasonably competitive until lunch on Saturday, Zimbabwe’s bowlers took a hammering during the afternoon.
Opening batsman Abid Ali made 215 not out and Nauman Ali slammed 97 before being stumped off a wide.
The pair plundered 169 runs off 199 balls for the eighth wicket.
The Zimbabwe innings got off to a bad start when 36-year-old debutant Tabish Khan struck in his first over before a run had been scored.
Three more wickets fell before the close and Zimbabwe looked in desperate trouble, with Roy Kaia not coming out to bat after being struck a heavy blow on his left knee while fielding at short leg on Friday.
Kaia was Zimbabwe’s top scorer with 48 when Zimbabwe were routed by an innings and 116 runs in the first Test of the two-match series.
Zimbabwe went into the leave final judgement to the local cricket constituency.
“I would say that I have made a positive contribution, considering the challenges during my tenure. But I will allow the public to judge,” said the outspoken People’s National Party (PNP) councillor for the Maxfield Park Division.
In terms of his successes, Gordon named rebuilding and expanding the Oval pavilion; establishing a proper practice facility; securing the property [fencing the Oval]; completing the resurfacing of the field; consistently placing in the top four best teams in the country; having members of the club recruited for national and international teams; hiring top-level coaches; securing scholarship support for players; celebrating past players and administrators; and providing incentives to players.
He lists as disappointments the failure to win the Senior Cup; lack of support from the local business community; lack of leadership and support from the JCA; and players’ lack of appreciation for the investment and sacrifice by the local board. match without three leading batsmen because of injury and Kaia’s absence was a further blow.
Pakistan’s innings ended in bizarre circumstances.
Nauman was 93 not out at tea. He hit the first ball after the interval for four but lifted his back foot after left-arm spinner Tendai Chisoro bowled a wide with his next delivery.
Wicketkeeper Regis Chakabva reacted quickly and took off the bails. He hit 97 off 104 balls with five sixes and nine fours.
Having scored most of his runs behind or square of the wicket in scoring his first 150, Abid blossomed with some handsome drives during the afternoon.
He faced 407 balls and hit 29 fours in beating his previous highest score in Tests of 174 against Sri Lanka in Karachi in 2019-20.
Tabish, a veteran of 598 wickets in 137 first class matches, shared the new ball with Shaheen Shah Afridi who started with a maiden over.
Tabish set up Tarisai Masakanda with a series of deliveries outside the off stump then trapped the batsman leg before wicket with a full delivery which snaked back.
Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and off-spinner Sajid Khan all took wickets as only Regis Chakabva, on 28 not out, was able to reach double figures.