CAYON, ST. KITTS—Despite a rain shortened 40 over encounter, Nevis made light-work of the US Virgin Islands in the first day of the Nagico one Day Cricket Tournament at the Cayon cricket field in St. Kitts; crushing the minnows by 152 runs. Nevis racked up 208 runs all out in 37 overs, the only good spark for an obviously weaker USVI team that managed to bowl out a more experienced Nevis team in less than the allotted overs. However, USVI could only manage a measly 56 runs in reply. Intermittent rain in the morning hours caused the game to stop at least three times forcing a reduction in overs according to the Duckworth Lewis system. This saw the game going to 40 overs.
Nevis decorated with its star players Kieron Powell and Runako Morton, both playing for the West Indies, was poised to dismantle the USVI before the end of the day. However, despite a star performance of 53 runs from Powell, Morton failed to score, bowled out by Gary Daniel who picked up two wickers for 48 runs. Powell only got assistance on the batting front from K. Tyson (15 runs), Javier Liburd with 30 and Joel Simmonds with 45 not out. D. Browne could only manage a run after being bowled by Andrew Eusibe; Jason Campbell scored two runs, Trevier Smithen, three, Don Byron, 14 runs, Tonito Willet, nine and Adelvin Philip scored 11 runs after being stumped by Nyra Stewart. Stewart was the beast of the bowlers for USVI picking up four wickets for 35 runs in 5.5 overs. Dale Africa picked up a wicket for 26 runs; Andrew Eusibe had two wickets in 46 runs after eight overs and Gary Daniel two wickets for 34 runs also in eight overs.
However, after a credible bowling performance, USVI fell flat on their faces when it came to batting. Nyra Stewart who was the star bowler for the minnows failed to score a single run caught by Kieron Powell off Adelvin Philip’s bowling. Only Dale Africa scored double figures with 13 runs before he was bowled by Tonito Willet. Andrew Daniel, Andrew Eusibe, Andrew Bernell and Kenly Tidall were all bowled out for ducks. Ray Fredrick and Samuel Jones scored three runs each and Dane Weston scored nine runs not out. Nevis’ coach Stuart Williams was disappointed that his team was bowled out in 37 overs against a team they eventually trampled in the end. “Get bowled out in 37 overs is not good,” Williams said. He commended Kieron Powell and the other players that scored double figures and highlighted that the intensity in the team is evident, which is a good sign for Nevis that challenges an unpredictable Montserrat team today also in Cayon. Coach Williams hopes his batsmen will apply themselves more on the field in today’s match and blames the rain interruption earlier that day for the break in their mental concentration, thus the below par performance among some of them, such as Runako Morton who failed to score. “At the end of the day, its cricket so whatever stoppages you have to keep focused on the game,” the coach said.
Coach Livingston Harris of the USVI was sorely disappointed that after a credible bowling performance reducing Nevis to 208 in 37 overs, his team failed on the batting end. He is confident that the team’s batting performance will improve today against St. Kitts and he is not worried about putting out a good effort in the bowling department as was done Monday. “I don’t think St. Kitts is going to get any big total against us, but we have to go and bat and make the total that St. Kitts would have made,” Harris said.
