A huge crowd showed up at the ET Willet Park on Thursday 2nd August to witness the exhibition match between the Premier’s X1 and the SKN Patriots franchise team.
Errol JABAL Tyson and Livingstone JABADAR Lawrence, had prepared a hard track, which they promised had in something for both the bowlers and the batsmen.
Among the distinguished persons present, were Premier Mark Brantley himself and Minister of Sports, Eric Evelyn, who both had the opportunity to meet the teams in their official capacity.
The SKN Patriots won the toss and elected to bat first. They were off to an authoritative start, with King and Thomas hitting thumping boundaries and even though Thomas went early, Cutting, Cooper and Glenn, all played aggressively to bring up a competitive 191 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.
When the Premier’s X1 batted, exciting, youthful openers, Ross Powell and Jamie Cornelius, threatened to dominate, after Cornelius deposited the first ball onto the far hillside and then Powell straight drove with vigour for another terrific boundary.
However, Cornelius soon perished, bowled neck and crop, playing a rash heave.
Ross Powell continued well, even charging the pacy Alzarri Joseph, who in taking great offence, soon sent a nasty snorter his way, which fortunately damaged the grill on his helmet and nothing else.
The top innings was to come from Captain Tonito Willet, who played a superlative hand for his half a ton and then the youthful Javani Tyson entertained with some superb hitting of his own.
In the final analysis, it was not enough, even though it was generally agreed that the Premier’s X1 had given their best response yet, in the three years that the exhibition match has been played.
Summarized scores: SKN Patriots 191 for 7 in 20 overs:
T. Cooper 50;
B. King 36;
B. Cutting 33;
J. Glenn 26
T. Willet 2 for 22;
S. Berridge 2 for 28;
T. Newman 2 for 32;
E. Berridge 1 for 34
Premier’s X1 153 for 7 in 20 overs:
T. Willet 52;
J. Tyson 34*;
R. Powell 27
H. Walsh 2 for 19;
T. Cooper 2 for 27;
T. Warde, F. Allen and A. Joseph 1 wicket each
SKN Patriots won by 38 runs
Man of the match—Tom Cooper