Barbados Advocate article.
Bridgetown, Barbados - Celebrations spilled well into Independence Day in St. Philip, as for the first time ever, a community team had come away as the champions of the Grantley Adams International Airport T20 Tapeball Competition.
Defending champions Caribbean Aircraft Handling – Ramp were thwarted in their attempt to repeat in Rices on Saturday night by Gem Stars, in a match that kept the Ramp fans and supporters biting their nails.
Winning the toss and opting to field, Gem Stars kept the runs down for Ramp with only one player making it into double-figures. Albert King had the only boundary of the innings, as he got up to 18 off 36 balls before gifting his wicket to Renaldo Brathwaite. Ramp limped to 91 for the loss of eight in their 20 overs, but not before Rachid O’neale helped himself to two wickets for 11 runs in a four-wicket spell.
With their sights set on 92 for victory, Gem Stars did not start too badly, as their opener Fabian Batson ended up taking the Man of the Match title with a sound knock of 24. He hit one six and one four on his way to the total, as the first four wickets fell before he was run out by Amory Holder. Brathwaite also had a contribution to make with the bat, and he posted 12 off 18 balls.
After Batson’s dismissal, Gem Stars were well on their way to victory (79 for 5), but suffered a bottom order collapse as Zachery McCaskie (3), Kenroy Bennett (0) and Dwayne Alleyne (0) all went in the space of two runs. Gem Stars were able to hold out and brought home the two-wicket win at 92 for eight with 28 balls to spare.
2014 GAIA T20 Honour Roll
Player of the match – Final: Fabian Batson – Gem Stars
Wicketkeeper with most dismissals: Patrick Browne – Harlington (7)
Bowler with most wickets: Darian Cox – Custom (15)
Batsman with most runs: Amory Holder – CAH-Ramp (182)
Player of the series: Amory Holder – CAH-Ramp
Highest Individual Score: Shanaldo Taylor – DHL (80 no vs CAH-Ramp)
Best Bowling Performance: Chad Puckering – Courtesy (6-19 vs Stoute’s)
First Published In The Barbados Advocate.