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Powerhouses Piton Dover and the relative unknowns MTW will clash in the final of the Barbados Fire & Commercial Shield cricket competition next week.

The two sides booked their final date with hard-fought wins in the semifinals, yesterday. Dover, the kings of lower division cricket, worked hard for a four-wicket victory over Combermere School, making 144 for six after the original target of 175 was reduced due to rain.

MTW, at home, reached their first final by restricting Central to 197 to win by 12 runs.

At Waterford: Experience got the better of youth as Dover's middle order chose the right ball and the right moments to launch their attack.

Man-Of-The-Match Jerry Kirton blasted three sixes in the space of five balls just when it was needed. Kirton's 28 off 16 balls came with his side still needing 52 runs off eight overs. Together with Wilbur Bruce (50 two fours and two sixes off 79 balls), he added 45 in six decisive overs to which the students had no answer.

This festival of power hitting came after rain had forced the umpires to reduced the target from 175 in 40 overs to 144 in 33 overs. At the break the score was 76 for three in 22 overs with the game truly in the balance.

I'm an attacking player and I knew I had to be positive in order for us to win the game, said Kirton, who like Bruce is a former Carlton First Division captain.

From the time I left the pavilion I was planning to attack. We are full of confidence but not over-confident. Any team (MTW) which makes the final must be good. We won't be taking them lightly in the final.

Kirton paid Combermere the ultimate compliment, saying they were the best school side he had ever played against. The level of fitness, the batting and the bowling was very good. They really made us fight, and fight hard.

Kirton also starred with the ball, snatching four for 23 as the schoolboys lost their way at the end, losing the last five wickets for 18 runs after Calvin Watson (49) and Rohan Nurse (34) both batted attractively.

Maybe the boys could write this one down to experience.

At Pine Basin: Cheers and shouts greeted MTW's victory over the seasoned Central.

Fortunes fluctuated all day and the margin of victory said it all. MTW had to battle back from a difficult start but took control after the visitors bowlers' rocked them at the start.

Led by their captain and Man-Of-The-Match Geoffrey Padmore with a flamboyant half century, they transformed a position of uncertainty to one of comfort.

Padmore belted out seven fours and two sixes in a entertaining knock of 73 which took his team from 70 for five to a respectable total of 212.

Padmore enjoyed two good partnerships;the first was a seventh-wicket stand with Peter Blackman worth 69 and an eighth-wicket stand with Winston Gittens for 59 runs.

The tail rallied around their captain until he was last out.

Central started positively posting 50 in six overs with in-form opening batsman David Forde striking four sixes in a quickfire knock of 37.

However, the introduction of left-arm spinner David Payne saw the innings quickly slumping to 112 for six, before Arglye Catwell, with 42, brought some glimmer of hope back to the Vaucluse men, but with 19 needed in the last over, he only managed four before he was stumped by keeper Peter Blackman.

© The Barbados Nation