Gayle, Buff Bay clash in Sandals/ Costley St Mary T20 final
GAYLE and guest team Buff Bay United will square off in the grand finals of the Sandals/ Costley Construction-sponsored St Mary T20 Blast on Sunday at Mango Valley Oval in the parish, at noon. The third place play-off, which bowls of at 10 am, will feature Boscobel versus Highgate.
Both teams scored convincing wins in their semi-finals recently, at the same venue.
In the feature semi-final match Gayle was in scintillating form, brushing aside the challenge of highly touted Boscobel, stunning them by 90 runs, while in the opening encounter Buff Bay United turned back Highgate by 87 runs.
Buff Bay batted first and rattled up an imposing 200 for 6, with Portland parish representatives Robert Weir and Herman Henry both slamming half-centuries. Henry posted 56 not out while Weir made 51. Bowling for Highgate, off-spinner Darian Walker was the top bowler, bagging 3-34.
In their turn at the crease Highgate got off to a good start but slumped to 113 all out, with openers Renar Ross 66 and Jonraine Stanford 17 being the only batsmen to offer any resistance to Dwayne Hyatt 3-31.
Gayle batted first against Boscobel and amassed 212 for 2 off their 20 overs, thanks to promising Tacky High opener Javiere Green who made 83 not out; with Howard Palmer 55 and Milton Mills 37 not out. Bowling for Boscobel, Tyrone Daley and Oshane Ennis took one wicket apiece.
In their reply Boscobel folded for 122 against national under-17 representative Aan Ennis 2-23, Jevaughn Hinds 1-14, and Jermaine Chisholm 1-19.
Sunday’s finals will be a clash of two unbeaten teams. Gayle, however, with their armada of fast bowlers, should start slight favourites. They will be bolstered by the trio of St Mary parish strike bowlers Jermaine Chisholm, Jevaughn Hinds, and skipper Sheldon Pryce. They will be backed up by national under 17 medium fast bowler Aan Ennis and spinner Ellando Robinson. Their batting is strong on paper, led by parish representatives Javiere Green, Milton Mills, national under-19 wicketkeeper-batsman Trevaun Williams, Robinson, and Howard Palmer.
Buff Bay United from Portland, the guest team in the competition, will be champing at the bit to dethrone the former Social Development Commission National T20 champions. They boast a strong team of Robert Weir, Herman Henry, and Dwayne Hyatt.
St Mary Cricket Association first vice-president in charge of cricket operations Junior Mattison says a bumper crowd is expected and is looking forward to a high standard of cricket.
“We are looking to the the younger players [to] come to the party,” he said.