PHC Field (Devonshire won toss): PHC beat Devonshire by five runs

PHC held their nerve when it mattered most to secure their maiden win in the Athene T20 League First Division yesterday.

Visitors Devonshire required eleven off the last over with the game between the two rivals hanging in the balance.

Devonshire captain Dion Ball (2) and Shaquille Pitcher (16 not out) ran two byes on the first delivery.

The pair ran for another two runs off the next delivery after Ball was put down at long off.

The momentum swung when Darrien Gibbons sent down a dot ball and then had Ball stumped charging down the crease.

Gibbons kept the pressure on and sent down another crucial dot ball to incoming batter Derek DeChabert.

With seven still needed off the final ball, DeChabert made contact but could only manage a single as PHC held on for their first win in the competition by the skin of their teeth.

“I am happy for the players because they have been working hard, so it finally came to fruition,” Cal Waldron, the PHC coach, said.

“But it’s still some things we need to work on to be competitive.”

The hosts struggled to score runs after being sent to bat.

Kevin Lambe was their top scorer with 28 from 33 balls with three fours.

Dionte Dowling (18), Jahmari Beach (16) and captain Dev Hanuman (13) were the remaining batters in double figures.

“We didn’t put up a large total but we defended well what we put up,” Waldron added.

“We bowled in the right areas well so we created pressure and dot balls turned into wicket balls.”

Derwin Adams was the pick of the Devonshire bowling with two for ten.

The visitors were firmly in the driver’s seat in reply at 52 for one before losing four wickets for 14 runs in five overs as PHC’s slow bowlers turned the tide.

Freeman Lema (12) and Pitcher added 24 in four overs to halt the slide.

However, the match took another twist when the big hitting Chris Dailey (4) was bowled attempting to drive through the covers.

With the game on the line, PHC’s bowlers were equal to the task with Gibbons leading the charge with figures of three for 16.

“They bowled in better areas so it was a much better bowling performance,” Waldron said.

PHC

K Lambe run out Pitcher 28

J Beach c Dailey b Lightbourne-Simmons 16

D Dowling c Cannonier b Adams 18

D Gibbons c Jennings b Adams 6

*Dev Hanuman not out 13

T Webb not out 6

Extras (lb 2, b 1, nb 1, w 13) 17

Total (4 wkts; 20 overs) 104

Q Baisden, E Bean, Chris Clarke, K Robinson and C Waldron did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-64, 3-81, 4-84

Bowling: Carr 4-0-12-0; Pitcher 3-0-20-0; Lightbourne-Simmons 4-0-17-1; Ball 4-0-19-0; Dailey 3-0-23-0; Adams 2-0-10-2

Devonshire

A Cannonier b Gibbons 6

D Adams b Hanuman 27

T Jennings c Dowling b Webb 13

K Lightbourne-Simmons run out Gibbons 3

C Dailey b Beach 4

F Lema b Gibbons 12

S Pitcher not out 16

D Ball st †Clarke b Gibbons 2

Derek DeChebert not out 1

Extras: (lb 2, b 4, w 9) 15

L Carr, †A Butterfield did not bat

Total (7 wkts; 20 overs) 99

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-52, 3-55, 4-63, 5-66, 6-90, 7-98

Bowling: Dowling 4-0-16-0; Gibbons 4-0-16-3; Hanuman 4-0-17-1; Webb 4-0-20-1; Beach 2-0-8-1; Bean 2-00-16-0.

Umpires: C Brangman and J Pitcher

Match Referee: S Douglas