Host Antigua and Barbuda maintained their successful start in the inaugural Leeward Islands Cricket Board’s (LICB) Senior Men’s T20 Cricket Festival at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS) on Sunday.
After launching their campaign with an emphatic 83-run drubbing of St. Kitts, the Antigua and Barbuda senior men made it two wins in as many games by coasting to a convincing six-wicket victory against Nevis in their second encounter.
Set 123 to win, Antigua and Barbuda achieved their victory target for the loss of four wickets with 37 balls to spare.
Vice-captain Karima Gore, who struck 79 against St. Kitts, once again delivered with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 44 off 23 balls, including four sixes and two fours.
Opener Kofi James hit a quickfire 35 off 27 balls, with four boundaries, and Tyrone Williams Jr. scored 17 off 19 balls. Pacer Kian Pemberton bowled impressively to pick up two wickets for 16 runs in three overs.
The Nevisians were restricted to 122 for eight off their 20 overs after they won the toss and elected to bat. Opener Ross Powell hit an unbeaten 50 off 54 balls, which included one boundary.
Four other Nevisian batsmen – Colin Archibald (19), Adrian Williams (16), Sheldon Forbes (13), and Bodgenarine Sharma (10) – managed to reach double figures but were unable to convert their individual knocks into big scores.
Antiguan skipper and off-spinner Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall grabbed three for 24, and left-arm pacer Javier Spencer picked up two for 18 against the Nevisian, who lost for the first time after snatching a two-run win against the Combined Islands (Montserrat and St. Maarten) in their opening encounter.
Anguilla also maintained their good start to the T20 festival, notching up their second win in as many outings by pulling off a 13-run victory against St. Kitts, who lost for the second time in two matches.
Anguilla, who beat the Combined Virgin Islands (British and United States) by seven wickets in their opening game, made 157 for four off their 20 overs after winning the toss and opting to bat against the Kittitians.
Jahmar Hamilton cracked 62 off 51 balls, including four fours and three sixes. Jaidel Richardson struck 26 off 19 balls, and Deon Burton scored 24 not out off 25 balls.
In reply, St. Kitts were restricted to 144 for nine off their 20 overs. Captain Cameron Pennyfeather struck 65 off 39 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.
Opener Xavier Saunders made 23 off 32 balls, and Keon Harding scored 20 not out off 24 balls. Jaidel Richardson capped a fine all-round performance by grabbing three for 27 in four overs.
The Combined Islands recorded their first win of the tournament by snatching a seven-run victory against the Combined Virgin Islands, who lost for the second time in as many games.
The Combined Islands, who lost the toss and were sent in to bat, were dismissed for 126 in 19 overs.
Captain Daniel Doram hit an unbeaten 32 off 41 balls, Ziwandi Whyte struck 31 off 21 balls, including five fours and a six, and Sherwin Peters slammed 28 off 15 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Samuel Jones Jr. grabbed three for 15, Aviskhar Sewkarran bagged three for 16, and Gary Prince picked up two for 20.
In reply, the Combined Virgin Islands were restricted to 119 for eight off their 20 overs. Sewkarran hit 34 off 35 balls, including two fours and two sixes, and Ameri Hinds scored 23 off 35 balls.
Michael Palmer took two for 17, and Stevel Rodney and Shernyl Burns each picked up two for 20.
