PCA Masters v Barbados Tourism Authority
A Twenty20 match at the Brit Oval, jointly organised between the Barbados Tourism Authority and the PCA Masters sponsored by Sodexo, gave everybody in attendance a day to remember, the Bajan style weather, music and dancing amongst a thousand strong crowd setting the scene for a fascinating match.
The afternoon started with a Community Cricket coaching session sponsored by Sodexo involving Kennington United Colts CC and their Coaches Tony and Jordan Moody. Both the Barbados Legends and the Sodexo sponsored PCA Masters were on hand to offer expert advice and the benefit of their cricketing experience. Both Kennington United Colts and the PCA Masters would like to thank Sodexo for their sponsorship of junior cricket through the PCA Masters.
Having won the toss, Barbados Legends captain Philo Wallace decided to bat first on a typically flat Oval wicket. The skipper and Sherwin Campbell got the game got the game underway against an accurate opening spell from Devon Malcolm (4,0,19,1) and Martin Bicknell (3,0,16,1). Malcolm soon disposed of Sherwin Campbell for two which brought West Indian Legend Desmond Haynes to the crease to a standing ovation from the crowd. Haynes and Wallace were quickly into their stride only for Haynes to be bowled by Martin Bicknell for a fluent 15. Useful partnerships between Wallace and Roland Holder (26) and later Courtney Browne (14) gave the Legends a challenging total of 152 - 5 off of their 20 overs with Philo Wallace remaining unbeaten on 68 of just 53 balls. Peter Such being the pick of the bowlers in the middle overs (4,0,27,2)
The PCA Masters innings started brightly with openers Graham Thorpe and Martin McCague finding the boundary with ease. Thorpe batting as though he had never retired made an attractive 28 before falling to Sherwin Campbell and with Martin McCague falling to Ian Bradshaw, the score was still a healthy 60-2. Mark Alleyne was joined by Dougie Brown, these two added a partnership of 58 before Dougie Brown (16) was bowled by Ezra Moseley.
With Alleyne batting fluently both Dawood and Napier found it difficult against the tight bowling of West Indian Legend Charlie Griffith (3,0,23,0) and the pace of Patterson Thompson (4,0,33,1). Alleyne continued to keep up with the rate and was joined by Masters Captain Ian Harvey with 13 runs needed off 11 balls to win. The equation was reduced to 8 off the final over, then down to 2 from the last ball to win with Ian Harvey facing. With the crowd dancing and the music blaring Desmond Haynes delivered the final ball to Harvey who clipped it firmly off his legs only to see Roland Holder dive full length to his left and hold onto a fantastic catch to win the game for the Barbados Legends and to leave Mark Alleyne unbeaten for a brilliant innings of 69.
Philo Wallace was announced man of the match and both captains were generously presented with a vintage bottle of Rum from Cockspur.
This game was without doubt a fantastic promotion for the Barbados Tourism Authority and cricket in the Carribean and with the arrival of England in the West Indies in the New Year it makes for exciting times ahead.
The PCA Masters sponsored by Sodexo, would like to thank Surrey County Cricket Club and its ground staff for hosting this fixture and hopes that this would lead to an Annual Event between the two teams.
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