Greenies take title in final-ball thriller

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 24 April 2018

It’s the stuff that the famed fictional West Indian character Tanti Merle became best known for – an important cricket match going down to the wire. That’s just what happened as the competitive part of the 2018 Cayman Cricket domestic T20 season ended on Sunday, 22 April.

The Elite League final at Jimmy Powell Oval in West Bay came down to the last ball to determine who between Paramount Cricket Club and Village Greenies would rule the roost.

Winning the toss, Greenies skipper Alessandro Morris opted to have a bowl first. The plan appeared set in motion when a pair of wickets fell early, but Deno McInnis played a crucial knock to ensure Paramount remained competitive. Despite being hobbled by an injury, the batsman hit seven boundaries in a 34-ball 46 that solidified the middle order.

Deno McInnis played a big innings for Paramount.

Lawrence McIntosh played a supportive role, more significant than the 13 runs to his name. Conroy Wright (16) and Adrian Wright with a run-a-ball 13 tried to get Paramount a competitive score but finished on 126 for seven wickets off their 20 overs, which appeared to be at least 20 runs short of a comfortable total.

Alistair Ifill was the most successful Greenies bowler with three scalps for 16 runs off his four overs.

Alistair Ifill took three wickets for Greenies.

With runs on the board, Paramount had a total to defend and off they set. An early celebration came when Chad Hauptfliesch was caught behind by Ainsley Hall off the bowling of Adrian Wright from the final ball of the second over of the innings.

In at number three, Umroy Williams looked settled early and ready for a big stand with opener Chris Palmer. Williams scored 24 off 22 balls, including three boundaries before being stumped by the quick-handed Hall, who caught him fishing at a delivery wide of the off-stump.

Greg Strydom, who has four one-day internationals to his name for Zimbabwe, was next to go. He was sent quickly back to the pavilion for a duck, caught behind off the bowling of Rickel Walker. That brought Ifill to the middle for what turned out to be an important partnership with Palmer, the former national captain.

Umroy Williams drives

Palmer and Ifill propelled Greenies toward the target but the pair were broken up when Ifill was run out for 18 with the score on 108 for 4, 18 shy of victory.

Down to the final over it went. Greenies needed eight off six deliveries with seamer Marvin Swark having the ball in his hands. The scores were level With the scores level at 126 with a final delivery left, the pressure was on. As the winning runs came, the guys in green were the ones celebrating a four wicket victory.

Palmer was man-of-the-match for his steady 57 runs off 54 balls with three fours. “I feel that we have enough strikers around us that if I played the anchor role, we’d get there and that’s kind of what happened,” he said.

However, it was a bit closer than he expected. “It was a competitive total and we felt like run-a-ball, we’d make that. We didn’t want it to go down to the wire like it did, but it made it more intense, more enjoyable for everyone watching,” Palmer said.

Chris Palmer anchored the Greenies innings.

Morris, who didn’t have the best day with the ball conceding 22 runs off his four overs with a wicket, described it as a team victory.

“It’s a brilliant game. I thought the guys played really well; we executed; we came out here with a plan and every man on the team executed today. It’s a complete team effort. I’m really proud of these guys,” the jubilant skipper said.

“That’s what has been out thing throughout this tournament. We’ve always had someone who has put their hand up and played this kind of innings. Today, Chris has showed what a good player he is…and every guy behind him, guys were sacrificing their wicket to make sure he stayed on strike. That’s the sign of a good team.”

Paramount skipper Omar Willis reflected on the game as his opponents celebrated. “It was a good final,” he said. “We thought we were 20 to 30 runs short given that it was a good batting track. We kind of lost our way towards the end but credit to the Greenies bowlers – they bowled very well.”

Walker celebrates Strydom dismissal.

Nonetheless, they made it a competitive final, for which Willis praised his teammates. “It shows character. The guys really put in a big effort. We know we had a total to defend and they gave it everything I could ask for,” he told CaymanSportsBuzz.com.

A day earlier, Paramount were the ones celebrating at the end of the Super League final. Chasing 146 put on the board by Clean Gas, it came down to Paramount 2 needing two runs off the last ball. A single was scored off that delivery before an overthrow allowed them to win the game by three wickets. Conroy Wright, donning different colours, scored 37 for Clean Gas and Rickel Walker top-scored with 48 for Paramount 2.

The curtains close on the season with All Star games between the Board Secretary’s XI and the President’s XI for the Super League on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. at Jimmy Powell Oval; and for the Elite League at the same venue on Sunday at noon.

Paramount CC starting XI

Starting XIs:

Village Greenies: Alessandro Morris (capt), Greg Strydom, Patrick McConvey, Michael Reid, Kevon Bazil, Chad Hauptfleisch, Chris Palmer, Zach McLalughlin, Alistair Ifill, Andrew Ledger, Umroy Williams.

Paramount CC: Omar Willias (capt), Ainsley Hall, Rickel Walker, Patrick Heron, Deno McInnis, Adrian Wright, Conroy Wright, Marvin Swark, Jermain Griffith, Andrew Blackwood, Lawrence McIntosh.

More photos will be posted on our Facebook page.