Jonté Smith heads into Cup Match with polished half-century
Wellington Oval (Vice-President’s XI won toss): President’s XI beat Vice-President’s XI by three wickets
Jonté Smith and Charles Trott notched up half-centuries for either side to provide the few batting highlights in the challengers’ final trial on Saturday.
Smith’s 109-ball 65 at the top of the order for the Vice-President’s XI was the biggest contribution in a total of 193 in 48.1overs.
Trott then followed up his spell of two for four in 4.1 overs by stroking 51 off 49 balls, as the President’s XI sprinted to victory in 32 overs.
With Zeko Burgess and Luke Horan bowling well up front, Smith stated that he struggled at the beginning of his innings.
“Batting was a challenge initially with Zeko and Luke opening the bowling,” the 31-year-old told The Royal Gazette.
“These are two good bowlers, so it was hard trying to battle through the new ball. Fortunately, I was able to get myself in and just kept going until I got to my half-century.”
Trott, who came in at No 5 after Marcus Scotland (33), Nzari Paynter (18), Keegan Jones (23) and Isaiah O’Brien (29) had laid the foundation for the President’s XI, found the track to his liking and was able to freely express himself.
Once Trott fell, Brian Hall and Aaron Paynter applied the finishing touches to bring the match to its conclusion.
“The wicket was good to bat on, so I just knew if I stayed long enough I would get runs,” Trott said.
“It was my chance to showcase my talent and I’m happy with how I played. When I went out to bat, it was a few minutes to tea, so I decided that I could survive those few overs. After that, I just batted myself in.”
The Vice-President’s XI did not enjoy a great start, as Jarryd Richardson departed for six at the end of the third over. Macai Simmons followed in the seventh over.
OJ Pitcher hung around for 26 before becoming one of the three wickets picked up by the spin of Jones. Former captain Onias Bascome also made a notable 36 at No 5.
By the time the lunch break came, Smith had compiled 64 runs to take his team to 149 for five. He could add one more to his total before he was bowled by Hall.
Once Smith departed, his side lost the last four wickets for 40 runs, with Mackih McGowan chipping in with a notable 22 down the order.
“Breaks tend to bring wickets,” the opener said. “He [Brian Hall] bowled a really good ball and got it to seam away from me. Sometimes it happens. All you can do is try to work on it between now and the next game.
“I hate losing, regardless of what it is. We probably didn’t get enough runs as a team, but the other team batted well — from the top Marcus Scotland and Nzari Paynter got off to a good start, and Keegan Jones, Isaiah O’Brien and Charles Trott came in and batted well.
“This being our final trial, I witnessed a good standard of cricket. We have a wicket that’s not the easiest to bat on, so overall a lot of batters tried their best and the bowlers got a lot of wickets as well.”
Notable for his absence from the final trial was Delray Rawlins, who was present but watched from the pavilion.
Vice-President’s XI
J Smith b Hall 65
†J Richardson c S Smith b Burgess 6
*M Simmons C Jones b Burgess 2
O Pitcher lbw b Jones 26
O Bascome c A Paynter b O’Brien 36
J Pitcher c and b Jones 4
C Darrell c S Smith b Jones 12
M McGowan c Scotland b Trott 22
K Fubler b Trott 10
S Campbell c Jones b Greaves 5
J Stovel not out 0
Extras (b 2, nb 3) 5
Total (48.1 overs) 193
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-13, 3-59, 4-119, 5-127, 6-153, 7-165, 8-188, 9-193.
Bowling: Burgess 6-0-22-2; Horan 6-1-14-0; O’Brien 4-0-20-0; Jones 12-1-61-3; A Paynter 2-0-12-0; Greaves 6-0-30-2; N Paynter 4-0-19-0; Hall 4-1-9-1; Trott 4.1-1-4-2.
President’s XI
M Scotland b Fubler 33
N Paynter b Stovell 18
K Jones c Richardson b Stovell 23
I O’Brien c Stovell b Pitcher 29
C Trott c Darrell b Pitcher 51
L Horan c Bascome b Darrell 8
B Hall not out 21
*†S Smith c Richardson b Darrell 0
A Paynter not out 11
Extras (lb 2) 2
Total (7 wkts; 32 overs) 196
I Greaves and Z Burgess did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-61, 3-80, 4-117, 5-150, 6-172, 7-173.
Bowling: McGowan 7-0-32-0; Fubler 7-0-43-1; Stovel 5-0-25-2; Campbell 4-1-18-0; Pitcher 6-0-52-2; Darrell 3-0-24-2.
Umpires: A Knight and J Pitcher.
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