Allan Douglas Jr delighted to have rediscovered batting form
Allan Douglas Jr will be keen to pick up where he left off with the bat as he and his St George’s team-mates seek to make further inroads towards their title defence in the Athene T20 League Premier Division this weekend.
The experienced all-rounder thumped a season high 78 off a mere 28 balls to help guide the champions to a 68-run win over hosts Bailey’s Bay at Sea Breeze Oval in their previous outing.
“I am just out there enjoying it right now,” Douglas told The Royal Gazette. “Coming off whirlwind form last year, this season has been under par by my standards, and I am pretty sure most people’s standards.
“However, it’s starting to look good for me. I feel confident and hopefully, I can carry it through to the end.”
Having not lived up to his lofty standards, the aggressive batter looked within to find resolve and turn his flagging fortunes around with the willow.
“Sometimes you just forget the simple things that get you to that point,” Douglas added.
“I had to look within myself and go back to my old ways and habits of how I was performing before over the years.”
Leaders St George’s have a ten-point advantage over nearest rivals Western Stars, who are ahead of Bailey’s Bay and Southampton Rangers on net run rate.
The only remaining unbeaten team in the league will look to continue their winning ways and inch closer to clinching a second successive T20 title against Cleveland at Lord’s today before hosting Somerset at Wellington Oval tomorrow.
“The spirits are high in the camp right now after going undefeated so far,” Douglas said. “We are doing extra team activities and we still have big numbers in training.
“I think we are doing really good. The coaches are pleased and everybody is still putting in 100 per cent, so that’s a good thing.”
On form St George’s are the firm favourites to come away victorious against lowly Cleveland and Somerset. However, Douglas is not taking anything for granted.
“Obviously, cricket is played on the day so we don’t want to take nobody for granted,” he added. “However, with the confidence that we have, we are looking to remain undefeated and put ourselves in the driver’s seat for the second half of the season because after this weekend that’s the first half of the T20 season completed.”
Meanwhile, Bailey’s Bay and Southampton Rangers will also look to keep their own title hopes alive in today’s remaining Premier Division fixtures.
Bay are away to lowly Warwick at Southampton Oval while Southampton travel to Somerset Cricket Club to face hosts Somerset.
First Division leaders St David’s are at home against Flatts at Lord’s, second-placed Willow Cuts host winless Devonshire at Somerset Cricket Club, while PHC and Somerset Bridge will clash at Southampton Oval in today’s fixtures.
Tomorrow’s remaining Premier Division T20 matches will see Bailey’s Bay do battle with fellow title hopefuls Western Stars at Sea Breeze Oval, while Cleveland face Warwick at White Hill Field.
Somerset Bridge host Willow Cuts at White Hill Field, PHC and St David’s will do battle at Wellington Oval while Flatts and Devonshire have been pitted against each other at Sea Breeze Oval.
First Division matches start at 10.30am and Premier Division at 2.30pm.
• The Bermuda Cricket Board have confirmed a minute’s silence will be observed before all matches this weekend in memory of the Queen.