Belize season takes off - Elston Wade reports
Tony Munro - 12 March 2000

Belize, lodged between Guatemala and the Caribbean, has more cricketers than any other Central American country. Elston Wade is the Past President of the Belize National Cricket Association. Elston will bring you regular updates on the Belize cricket scene. Here is his first report:

"Fourteen teams kicked off the start of the Belize National Cricket Competition at a marathon held at Lord's Bank Cricket Pitch on February 12, 2000. In the final match of the marathon, Sunrise of Lord's Bank defeated Surprise to capture the marathon trophy. Jason Broaster top scored for Sunrise with 58 runs, while Harrison Duhaney was the top scorer for the losing side with 36 runs. Jason Broaster took four wickets for Sunrise. The best bowler for Surprise was Glicksten Bennett (now playing for City Boys) with three wickets for 34 runs.

The following are the results of the matches played so far in the regular competition:

Date     Teams                                    Winners 
19.2.00  Tropical Disturbance vs. Brilliant       Tropical Disturbance 
19.2.00  Berlan vs. Killer Bee                    Berlan 
19.2.00  Uprising vs. Sunrise                     Uprising 
19.2.00  Wicked Eleven vs. Long Journey           Wicked Eleven 
19.2.00  City Boys vs. Rising Star                City Boys 
19.2.00  Excelsior vs.Western Eagles              Excelsior 
26.2.00  City Boys vs. Wicked Eleven              City Boys 
26.2.00  Surprise vs. Sunrise                     Surprise 

Although it is very early in the competition, strong performances have been displayed by Tropical Disturbance, City Boys and Surprise. Veteran cricketers Winston Anthony, Llewelyn Sutherland and Glicksten Bennett are leading performers for City Boys. Ceford Banner is brilliant with his bat for Surprise having scored 71 runs in his first match of the competition, while Alden Rhaburn took seven wickets for Surprise.

The top players for Tropical Disturbance are Bert Faux and Howell Gillett, who for the most part were responsible for the victory over three-time champion, Brilliant.

The competition consists of two rounds, the first of which will be completed on April 1, 2000. The defended champion is Wicked Eleven.

Below is a list of the teams taking part in the competition:

Zone 1                                         Zone 2 
Killer Bee                                     City Boys 
Western Eagles                                 Tropical Disturbance 
Berlan                                         Wicked Eleven 
Excelsior                                      Brave Union 
Uprising                                       Rising Star 
Sunrise                                        Long Journey 
Surprise                                       Brilliant" 

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