Fusionz Boutique Passage Juniors are celebrating their fifth capture of the Barbados Cricket Supplies Under-13 title.
Micaiah Simmons hit a fluent and highly entertaining half-century to lead Passage Juniors to a six-wicket victory over Empire Juniors in the final at the Wanderers Club Ground, Dayrells Road, yesterday.
He top-scored with 62, as his side scored 179 for four off 31.1 overs in reply to Empire’s 178 for nine in 35 overs.
Simmons batted with the responsibility consistent with his role as captain to put on 55 for the fourth wicket with Rashad Worrell (35 not out).
He got into stride with an authoritative extra cover drive for four and a similar stroke two balls later brought the identical result. The first fifty for Passage came off 70 balls and after 15 overs they had set a solid foundation on 67 for two.
By then, opener Edwin Barnet (22) had followed his opening partner Saschen Marshall back to the pavilion, caught by wicket keeper N’Tari Haynes as he attempted to cut off-spinner Dave Lovell.
Joshua Morris fell cheaply, run out for four after failing to beat Joel Wooding’s return to wicketkeeper Haynes when Simmons failed to respond to his call for a second run.
Empire seemed in with a chance with Passage requiring 85 off 90 deliveries but Simmons found an excellent partner in Rashad Worrell.
 Simmons brought up his half-century with successive boundaries off medium-pacer Ajani Roach. The landmark took him 44 balls and included seven boundaries. Another four through extra cover brought the target down to 50 off 65 balls but Simmons was eventually run out by a direct hit from Kobe Williams at straight midwicket.
Left-hander Worrell and namesake Dakio Worrell (15 not out) ensured the excellent start was not wasted with an unbroken fifth-wicket stand.
A lofted straight hit by Rashad Worrell for four seemed to knock the final bit of resistance out of Empire, and the white flag was clearly raised when, two balls later, the same batsman was dropped on the midwicket boundary with ten runs needed.
Earlier, Empire’s innings was built around a second-wicket partnership of 74 between Dre Springer and captain Nathan Sealy. Springer top scored with 43 off 51 balls, an innings that included eight boundaries. Sealy scored 34 off 56 balls, with a six and three fours. (PH)
