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Lightning Bolt strikes twice

Fetch that!: Sadiki Bolt topped the Melbourne Cricket Club batting with a boundary-laden knock of 40(Photo by Glenn Tucker)

Melbourne CC 155-7; Jamaican Cricket Association 106-5In 2004 Usain Bolt, the fastest man on the planet, stamped his authority at the Carifta Games in Bermuda.Last night it was the double world record holder’s brother Sadiki’s turn to wow the local crowd. And wow he did with a boundary-laden innings that helped inspire visiting Melbourne Cricket Club to a 49-run win against Jamaican Cricket Association at Somerset Cricket Club last night.Batting at number three, the younger Bolt lived up to the family name, stroking an electrifying 40 runs in a knock that included five boundaries.He added 24 runs for the third wicket with skipper Andre McCarty (13) and a further 51 runs with Saddique Henry (21) before he became the sixth wicket to fall after getting a leading edge and being caught in the covers.But by then the damage had long been done as the visitors’ total ultimately proved beyond their rival’s reach.“My innings was all right and I got the most for my team,” Bolt said of his team high knock. “Unfortunately I got out so hopefully tomorrow night (tonight) I can score a hundred and I’m looking forward to the match because it’s a better team (Somerset).”The only downside to Bolt’s first outing on these shores was the harsh punishment he suffered at the hands of veteran batsman Aaron Adams who smashed the off-spinner out of the park for two consecutive sixes in the 16th over. Bolt leaked 19 runs in that over and needless to say was promptly removed from his team’s bowling attack.“I underestimated that man,” he smiled. “I didn’t know he could hit the ball like that.”Others making useful contributions with the bat for the visitors, who elected to bat on a good track, were openers Jon-Ross Campbell (20) and Shawn Lodge (25) who added a brisk 39 in three overs as Jamaican Cricket Association new ball pair Kevin Abraham (1-34) and Neil Anglin (0-20) were put to the proverbial sword. Abraham eventually made the breakthrough when he had Campbell caught at mid off.The visitors gathered 53 runs off the power play. But after setting themselves up for a big total they suffered a collapse which saw three wickets tumble for the addition of 12 runs, thanks mainly to some excellent bowling by left arm spinner Alex Dore (3-27) who was by far the home team’s best bowler. Slow bowler Keniek Wallen (two for 34), who, like Dore, also bowled unchanged, had economical figures after two overs but saw his numbers swell after conceding 17 runs in the his third over as the visitors stepped on the gas in the closing overs.Things might have gone entirely different for Commercial Division T20 champions Jamaican Cricket Association had they taken their chances in the field. The local team put down three catches which didn’t aid their cause, Melbourne skipper McCarty being the main beneficiary as he was dropped twice.An asking rate of just under eight runs an over seemed within reach for Jamaican Cricket Association when they strolled out to the crease.But some steady bowling by a five-pronged Jamaican spin attack kept the home team’s batsman under wraps until Adams cut loose towards the end of the innings with some forceful blows. The former Cleveland player banged a game high 43 that contained three towering sixes that had fans ducking for cover.“It was a good pitch to bat on,” Adams said. “ The guys can hold their heads up, their team is a young team and we did the best we could do.”Dore (12), Chris Dailey (11) and Wallen (10 not out) were the only other Jamaican Cricket Association batsmen in double figures.Melbourne skipper McCarty (two for 20) was his team’s most effective bowler and one of two bowlers claiming a maiden wicket during the match, teammate Shamar Anderson being the other.Remarkably, neither team tossed down a no ball.