The Leewards Islands Development Company is today praising the efforts of CWI’s Joset Jacobs for her timely intervention that saved the eight-round match of the of the CWI Digicel PCL tournament, between the T&T Red Force and the Leewards Hurricanes.
The visitors threatened to walk away from the match as they were unhappy with conditions meted out to them at the Cascadia Hotel in St. Anns. The Leewards through manager Wilden Cornwall wrote the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) owners of the T&T Red Force franchise complaining about the conditions at the hotel.
Jacobs, Project Officer II at CWI had written to CEO of the TTCB, Suruj Ragoonath before the Leewards arrived for the match asking for a change of accommodation.
This was not done and president of the TTCB, Azim Bassarath responded by saying that if the Leewards left the hotel, they were not going to fit the bill.
At this point in time, CWI got involved and resolved the situation. Cricket operations manager at Leeward Islands Cricket Development Company Vernon Springer was a happy man and said, “We are thankful to Joset Jacobs and the CWI for their effort and it showed that they really wanted the players to be comfortable. This was really good of them and this approach to administration is just an example of what is needed to make our cricket better.
Meanwhile, in on the field action, Jason Campbell turned batsman to slam an unbeaten 30 and forge an unbeaten 21-run last wicket stand to give the Leewards Hurricanes a thrilling one-wicket victory over the T&T Red Force at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Chasing 222 runs to win, leg-spinner Imran Khan ran through the Leewards with five wickets, but in the end it was not enough, as Campbell was the star on the day. Leewards slipped to 205 for nine, but Campbell slammed three sixes in the space of seven balls to give the visitors the win. His 30 not out came off 22 balls with three sixes and a four.
Pacer Anderson Phillip started well for the Red Force and ripped out two batsmen with only 14 runs on the board. He had the scalps of Montcin Hodge (4) and Kacey Carty (2) and Red Force were in their glee.
The most senior players on the Leewards team Kieran Powell and Devon Thomas were then paired together and they took the game back. Thomas arrived with energy and Powell followed suit, as they took the attack to the Red Force bowlers. The two took the score to 107 before Powell left. He was dropped by Phillip and wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo in successive overs before Khan got his revenge in the following over by having him caught low down by Tion Webster at mid-wicket for 41.
The left hander faced 79 balls, hitting four fours and his partnership with Thomas was worth 93 runs. Leewards were still ahead because that man Thomas was there and he continued to plunder the runs.
He reached his half century soon after and took the score to less than 100 required, when he swept at a straight ball from Khary Pierre and went back for 65. He faced 99 balls and struck five fours and three sixes.
It was then left to Akeem Saunders who made 49 in the first innings to do battle and he fought well. He was able to coax another 27 runs from Jahmah Hamilton to take the score to 150. However, looking to press on Hamilton edged Khan down the leg side and was snapped up brilliantly by Katwaroo for 13.
Saunders batted with bravado and found the boundary many times in taking his team to 29 runs for victory before he fell to Khan for 38. The Alescon Comets bowler would immediately follow up with the wicket of Shaim Holder to complete five wickets in the innings and 10 wickets in the match for the fourth time in his career.
Earlier, T&T resumed on the bedtime position of 143 for 8 an added 19 runs for the last two wickets, finishing on 162 all out. Sheeno Berridge finished with four for 40 for match figures of eight for 112. Mervyn Matthews also grabbed one of the wickets and ended with 2/27.
Summarized scores: T&T 222; Leewards 163; T&T 162; Leewards needing 222 for victory- 226 for 9: Devon Thomas 65; Kieran Powell 41; Akeem Saunders 38
Khan 5 for 87; Phillip 2 for 23
Leewards won by 1 wicket