Leewards lift one-day Bowl

Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor

October 21, 1997


CRICKET: The Leeward Islands, powered by a superb level century from veteran Keith Arthurton, became the first holders of the Red Stripe Bowl and the champions of the regional limited over cricket competition for the fourth time when they defeated Guyana in the final before a bumper crowd yesterday at Kaiser, Discovery Bay.

Going to bat at number four with the finalists on nine previous occasions on the ropes at 14 for two in the third over of the 50-over per side contest, the left-handed Arthurton turned up with an innings of class as the Leeward Islands recovered to 132 for two, hopped to 245 off 49.9 overs and then restricted Guyana to 215 for nine in the allotted 50 overs.

In ticking off his second century of the tournament, and following his 128 against Jamaica last year, his second in successive appearances at Kaiser, Arthurton slammed two sixes one off left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell and one off right handed legspinner Shivnarine Chanderpaul - and eight fours while facing 129 deliveries before he cut at Chanderpaul and was caught by Clayton Lambert at short thirdman at 209 for six in the 44th over.

The former West Indies batsman was well supported in the recovery by West Indies youth captain Sylvester Joseph.

The 18-year old hit one six - a powerful drive over midwicket off right-arm legspinner Mahendra Nagamootoo - five boundaries, and faced 82 deliveries before he attempted to ondrive Nagamamootoo skied a catch to extra-over, and departed the scene at 132 for three after a partnership of 118 runs in 27 overs.

The Leeward Islands, beaten in the Zone B section of the competition by Guyana when they had to settle for second place were also off to fumbling start in the field. After taking care of the dangerous Lambert at 32 for one in the sixth over however, they never looked back and ran out even easier winners than the final score suggested.

``This is a great performance,'' said Clarvis Joseph - the Antiguan president of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association. ``At one stage after losing to Guyana in the first round, it looked dicey.''

The Leeward Islands wanted to bat second on the slow pitch, and before the start of play, the word out of their camp was that they spent all night praying that captain Stuart Williams would win the toss.

The luck however, was with Guyana, and when the coin landed, captain Carl Hooper sent the Leeward Islands to bat and, with Reon King starting brilliantly, had them on the run almost immediately by removing opening batsmen Williams and Lanville Harrigan inside three overs.

The crowd was still talking about the assault by Williams and Harrigan on Jamaica's bowlers on Saturday when King sent Williams packing in the first over - caught by Chanderpaul at second slip for zero at one for one, and then, in his second over, took care of Harrigan - caught by wicketkeeper Vishal Nagamootoo for four at 14 for two.

Arthurton however, was in glorious form, and so too was Sylvester Joseph who won many friends with some fluent drives through the onside.

After taking a few overs to settle in, Arthurton sounded the charge with a lovely drive off King through the covers, and from there on, there was no stopping him, and after surviving a sharp chance when, at 16 at 42 for two in the 13th over, he drove medium pacer Keith Semple to Hooper at short midwicket, Sylvester Joseph batted with a maturity which belied his age - a back foot drive to the cover boundary off Semple underlining his vast potential.

The test, based on the traditional weakness of the Leeward Islands batsmen against spin bowling, came when the spinners were introduced into the attack. It did not last long however, as Arthurton greeted McGarrell with a drive over long-off for six, and Sylvester Joseph welcomed Mahendra Nagamootoo with one which landed way beyond the boundary at midwicket.

With Guyana looking just under five runs an over to win their fourth title, the betting was on them, and they looked every bit the part - especially when the left-handed Lambert blasted five legside boundaries in successive overs, two off medium pacer Carl Tuckett and three off fast bowler Curtley Ambrose.

Ambrose however, is never a man to run from a fight, and after he took care of Andrew Gonsales - caught by Williams at short midwicket for five at 32 for one, the big pacer, after calling on Williams for an adjustment in the field, made it 40 for two in the seventh over when Lambert flicked off his legs straight to Ronald Powell at square leg.

It was 55 for three in the 13th when, in Kenneth Benjamin's first over, Semple drove straight to Williams at midwicket.


Source: The Jamaica Gleaner

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 15:18