Sept 19, 2018 – Salem Park Montserrat
After a late start due to a wet pitch from overnight rains, Antigua and Barbuda won the toss and elected to field against Nevis in a match reduced to 25 overs. After a brisk start, the initial breakthrough came in the fourth over with the score on 28 when Jamie Cornelius was caught by Kofi James off the bowling of seamer Stanny Simon for 22 runs from 12 balls. Nino Henry followed in the next over with the wicket of Ross Powell, LBW for 5 runs. Nevis were 30 for the loss of 2 wickets. However, looking to build quick runs in the reduced format, the Nevis lost wickets steadily before closing the innings at 134 for the loss of 9 wickets from the allotted 25 overs. Top-scorer for the innings was middle order batsman Adelvin Phillip who scored an unbeaten 40 runs from 38 balls which included 5 fours and a six.
Bowling for Antigua and Barbuda, Orlando Peters picked up 3 wickets for 36 runs from his 5 over allotment while Rahkeem “Jimbo” Cornwall picked up 2 wickets for a miserly 14 runs from his 5 overs. Nino Henry was alos very econimical grabbing a wicket while conceeding only 12 runs from his 5 overs.
In reply, Antigua and Barbuda started cautiously getting to 33 runs in the seventh over before the opening stand was broken by Nelson Boland with the wicket of Damien Lowenfield, caught by Jamie Cornelius for 16 runs off 23 deliveries. Two deliveries later, Karima Gore was also sent back to the dressing room caught also by Cornelius off the bowling of Boland for a duck. The Antiguan and Barbudan team consolidated its chase with a 42 run partnership between Orlando Peters and opener Kofi James before Peters lost his wicket for 27 runs from 29 balls.
Cornwall in action
The fall of Peters’ wicket opened the way for a belligerent 52 run partnership between James and Rahkeem Cornwall, 39 of those runs scored by Cornwall taking the score to 128 before James perished for a patient 32 runs from 47 deliveries. Cornwall and Shane Burton both completed the job getting to 135 for the loss of 4 wickets. Cornwall ended with 40 runs from just 18 deliveries smashing 5 fours and clubbing 3 sixes.
The pick of the Nevisian bowlers was Boland who took 2 wickets for 19 runs while conceding 19 runs from his 5 overs.
Cornwall was adjudged Man-of-the-Match for his all-round performance.
No play all day at Little Bay
At Little Bay, the match between St. Maarten and St. Kitts was abandoned due to unplayable conditions.
Matches continue tomorrow with Antigua and Barbuda vs Anguilla at Salem Park and Montserrat vs Nevis at Little Bay.
