Virgin Gorda mounted a spine-tingling performance to beat Police with one ball to spare and joined Cavaliers who whipped Cay Sports, in the BVI Cricket Association/Cable and Wireless Series best of three championships that starts on Saturday. 

BY DEAN GREENAWAY

Needing three runs from two balls, Leslie Ambrose blasted the ball through the boundaries, sending Virgin Gorda to a rousing victory over Police in 19.5 overs. Chasing Police’s 161 target, Virgin Gorda slumped to 78 for 6, but a magnificent 78 from Charles Fredericks gave them a fighting chance to secure the victory as they made 163 for 7.  Police’s Frank Devonish grabbed 3 for 29. Raymond Charles had 53 not out to lead Police’s batting, with Selwyn Rock chipping in 37.

Police’s manager Ivor Fraser said the rains changed the concept of the game. “When the rains came, we had three overs and one ball to bat., after the game was reduced from 40 to 20 overs and at that time, we had 113,” Fraser explained. “Getting 45 runs in the last three overs really made it competitive. We thought we should have defended it, we’re a very strong bowling team, a very professional team, and I have to give compliments to Virgin Gorda. They really played well. They stuck to the task and I must take my hat off to them.”

Virgin Gorda’s acting captain Arlington Williams described the match as ‘a nice victory.’ “In the dressing room, I reminded them that  Pipe (Maxford) our main batsman who had two centuries in the Leeward Islands Tournament wasn’t here and it was a must win for us. We have three batsmen who play for the Combined Virgin Islands in the lineup and we had to do well,” he said. “But, at 78 for 6, there was concern. I was out and so were the three guys who play for the Combined Virgin Islands. Leslie Ambrose came in and did a good job to give us the runs we needed.”
Cavaliers used Reaz Ali’s season’s best 105 in laying the foundation for their 246 for 7 from 30 overs, before bowling out Cay Sports for 133. Alvin Issac had a supporting 73. Cay Sports Gregory James snatched 3 for 44 while Kelvin Jeffers took 1 for 67. For Cavaliers, captain Vishal Baharat bowled three overs, with one maiden and grabbed 2 for 9. Veteran Rudolph Moses bagged 3 for 23.

“I think we batted really well with Ali scoring his first century of the season and putting on 143 for the opening wicket with Alvin Issac and that got us started,” Cavaliers captain Vishal Baharat said. “The other guys chipped in and that was the beginning of where we started looking to win the game. We had them at 57 for 7. However, we didn’t really pull ourselves together and let them made 133, but it was a good performance by the batters mostly.”

Cay Sports Edred David who carried the batting with a splendid 78 including seven boundaries and a six, said his squad was short handed and did not have enough senior players fielding. “But, a little more resistance from the top and middle order batsmen, I feel we could have pulled out a victory,” he explained. “We didn’t do too badly with the young guys towards the end, but that’s how the game play. Better luck to us next time.”

Baharat said Cavaliers played positively this season after losing the opener to Police. “Ever since that game, we have looked really well. I have every confidence we’ll pull the finals off. The guys are playing good and once they keep playing like they are playing, I have no doubt about them coming through.”