It was a battle of the Bs with bat and ball but the fielding of the Barbados Defence Force (BDF) was critical in their clinching of the second Barbados Cricket Association’s Sagicor Shield Twenty20 cricket title Monday.
BDF, who effected five run-outs when BRC batted, won a low-scoring final by seven wickets at Kensington Oval.
After restricting BRC, who won the toss and batted to 107 in their 20 overs, stocky opener Zikomo Cozier guided BDF to 110 for three in 19 overs asthe soldiers won with six balls to spare.
Cozier hit two fours in his match-winning 45 off 53 balls and finished the match with a six off BRC’s captain and left-arm spinner Adrian Maynard.
The ball landed in the western section of the 3Ws Stand, in front the BDF’s musical band with its drummers and trumpeters, who had entertained the spectators all day, especially with their rendition of I Feel So Good.  Â
Opting to bat first, BRC self-destructed with four of their top six batsmen falling by the run-out route as well as the last man. Opener Michael Hinds was the first run-out casualty from a direct hit in the covers by BDF’s captain Renaldo Brathwaite.
After that early loss, Anthony Rollins and Durwyn Selman shared a 57-runsecond-wicket partnership before BRC dug their own grave.
But once Rollins was needlessly run out for 30 off 22 balls at 70 for two in the 12th over when he ventured out of his crease after missing a ball which went through to wicketkeeper Jelani Joseph, BRC lost their way.
Selman was removed by spinner Jamar Gittens in the next over for 29 off 39 balls after hitting the bowler for a huge six, over long-on.
BRC’s woes continued as fast-medium bowler Renaldo “Ding” Griffith, who was forced into the attack after Brathwaite, trundling off-spin, was removed from the attack for bowling two deliveries over the batsmen’s waist, sliced through the middle order.
He took three for 16, including the key wicket of Maynard for seven and was involved in two run-outs as BRC slumped to 95-9.       Â
In reply, BDF got a solid foundation from openers Cozier and Dwayne Doughty, who added 42 in seven overs.
Off-spinner Lamar Fergusson gave BRC a flicker of hope with the wickets of Doughty and Brathwaite for 20 and 21, respectively, while conceding 17 runs.
Economical bowling from Maynard and left-arm pacer Sylvan Cummins after veteran Colin Small was flayed for 16 in his only over, saw BDF’s equation come down to 17 runs off the last three overs.
But the experienced Andre Evelyn conceded nine runs off his last over while Cozier and Joseph never got flustered and sensibly picked up singles and twos before Cozier’s winning hit. (EZS)
