Friday, March 29, 2024

Whim, Cyclone in BCL T20 clash

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VITA?MALT WHIM?are out for revenge when they take on Sunset Vacation House Cyclone in today’s historic Barbados Cricket League (BCL) Twenty20 final at Kensington Oval.
The St Peter-based team, blown away by six wickets in the 2009 Banks/BCL 35-over Knockout final at Banks Breweries, can’t wait to take out their Sion Hill, St James-based neighbours when they meet in the first ever BCL T20 final at 2 p.m.
Captain Newton Lewis, a police constable, said they planned to put the “cuffs” on Cyclone.
“The fellas feel very upbeat and are looking to win. It will be all guns blazing for the final; we’re not holding back anything,” he told SUNSPORT.
“A few years ago Cyclone beat us very badly in a final, so the guys are intent on making things right.”
The Whim experienced the thrill of a big victory two years later when they lifted the 35-over Champion Of Champions title by overcoming Lucky Horseshoe Welches at Blenheim by 15 runs. The Whim had also previously reached the knockout semis in 2003 before being run over by Bushy Park.
Lewis said his team, coached by Maple Elite Division all-rounder Shane Ramsay, comprised a good mix of youth and experience. In eight matches from the preliminaries to the semi-finals, they have been unbeaten.
“We are an all-round team,” the skipper responded when asked what the Whim’s strengths were. “When we are in any crisis, any one of us will put our hand up and answer the call. We are not a one-man team.”
But his opposite number, Theodore Thomas reckons that Cyclone will again defeat their fellow northern opponents.
“We beat them in a final already and I don’t think anything has changed. They are not bringing anything different to the table,” Thomas said.
Medium pacer Thomas pointed out Cyclone was a team capable of defending any total they made as was evidenced in the semi-final when they made just 46 but dismissed their neighbours Newberry Province under that score.
“We have played unbeaten in this competition. I have a very good team, which is very experienced. We are very confident about winning. We are accustomed to winning cups so going to final is nothing new. There  won’t be any jitters,” he said.
He said that having the final at?Kensington Oval really motivated the Cyclone players.
“The guys are really happy to be playing there. That was our dream to play in a final at Kensington and it has been realized,” he added.
Cyclone has a rich history of success, especially in last decade, winning back-to-back Super League titles in 2006, 2007 and 2008, when they had triple success, adding the Knockout and Champion of Champions titles by beating The Whim and Sussex respectively.
Cyclone also shared the Super League crown with Melbourne A in 2009 and after missing out for the next two years, reclaimed the title in 2012.
The team from the small, sleepy village in St Peter that bears the same name, only began playing BCL cricket in 2000. It has won a number of divisional titles and finally gained promotion to the Garfield Sobers Super League this season.
However, they are likely to be without Ramsay and fellow all-rounder Jamar Griffith, who will be representing CGI Maple in  the Sagicor T20 final, which will bowl off after the completion of the BCL match at 7 p.m.  
WHIM: (from) Newton Lewis (captain), Reunel Agard, Romaine Bend, Kevin Broomes, Julian Gibbons, Renaldo Gibbons, Jamar Griffith, Phaydron Hurley, Reco Hurley, Kwame Jackman, Fabian Jordan, Wendell Rock, Nauldon Thompson.
 Coach: Shane Ramsay, Clement Austin (manager).
CYCLONE (from): Theodore Thomas (captain), Edwin Vaughan, Samuel Vaughan, Derwin Thompson, Antone Lucas-Jones, David Carrington, Lloyd Thompson, Leroy Willoughby, Omar Wiggins, Ian Branch, Adrian Watson, Rodney Roach, Dario Mayers.
(BRYAN?WALKER/EZRA?STUART)

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