Excelsior, KC to clash in urban T20 final
Published:Thursday | April 18, 2024 | 12:10 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
EXCELSIOR OPENER David Dewar produced a blistering 60 not out from 18 deliveries to propel his team to a 10-wicket victory over St George’s College in the semi-final of the ISSA/GK Insurance Urban T20 tournament at Emmett Park yesterday, setting up a date with Kingston College (KC) in Friday’s final.
The innings brought the game to a close in just 4.2 overs, Excelsior successfully chasing St George’s paltry 66 all out, achieved in 18.2 overs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat under sunny conditions on their home pitch, St George’s started their innings scoring at a run per ball throughout the power play. However, the innings would take a nosedive as they moved from 54-3 to 66 all out.
Tamarie Redwood proved to be the chief destroyer, ending with figures of 3-11 from his allotted four overs.
Teammate Tarique Forbes ended with 2-11 while Michael Clarke grabbed a double-wicket-maiden in the one over he bowled.
In reply, Excelsior made light work of the total, Dewar slamming eight fours and four sixes. Opening partner Jamare Dailey just rotated the strike and watched the carnage from the non-striker’s end, scoring eight from as many deliveries.
Kirkland Bailey, head coach of Excelsior, in his post-game assessment, said Dewar set the tone of the Excelsior innings but that there was some work to be done in the field despite restricting St George’s to such a low total.
“It was a fair performance as we could have done better with the ball based on the standard of players that we have in the camp. The batting is starting to mature, David Dewar has been our talisman this season, and he has allowed our captain (Michael Clarke) to really watch most of the time. His innings set the platform for us to canter home,” he said.
Carlington Ebanks, head coach of St George’s, was aware of the threat that the Excelsior bowling unit possessed and wanted to take the positives from the encounter.
“Obviously, you’re going to be disappointed with the loss, but we have to take the positives out of it. We managed to reach the semi-final for two years in a row, and Excelsior is a really good team. We know we were up against it as they have a good bunch of bowlers. It’s hard to get them away,” Ebanks suggested.
In the day’s other semi-final between St Catherine High School and Kingston College, the latter booked their spot in the final after registering a 21-run victory.
Batting first, KC put up a challenging 174-4 from their 20 overs thanks in large part to Kev’Andre Virgo’s 74. Courtney Hanchard chipped in with 30.
In reply, a game St Catherine got to 153-6 in a run chase that ebbed and flowed.
Robeno Reid, 44, and Jaheim Frater, 38, were the major contributors in a run chase that needed somebody else to carry on for longer.
KC and Excelsior will face off in the final on Friday at Melbourne, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Before that, St Catherine and St George’s will play in the third-place playoff set for 10 a.m.