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Triumphant Vibes Takes Triple - Edges Tropical in Last Over Thriller

By Conroy Reid

In an ebb and flow game the team that seemed to have wanted it most won. The team that dug deep, and saved boundaries, cut off singles, made fewest errors, got the most chances, and got the close calls, and a few not so close, won.

Pic (Right) Edwards' miserly spell handcuffs Tropical

On a glorious October Sunday, the season’s dominant and undefeated team, Vibes Sports Club pulled off a nail-biter to upend the defending champions, Tropical, in the league finale. In doing so, Vibes topped Tropical for the fourth consecutive time this season, and laid claim to the league title to compliment their achievements in the 45 Overs and T20 competitions thereby claiming “A Triple Crown”.

Scores: Vibes 253 for 9; Mumby 76; Knight 40; Tropical 244 for 9; Harris 70 n.o, Givance 45; Alexander 3 for 50

Center stage was set in the middle of the broad expanse of McNair 1 field, under clear blue skies, summer-like temperatures in the mid 80’s, and a slight north easterly breeze. Tropical won the toss.

An apparently new tactical approach was immediately set in motion when they decided to field first. It paid no quick dividends. Mumby and Knight launched into the Tropical opening attack of Ebanks and Williams, and Vibes was quickly away on a six-runs-per-over sprint. Both opening bowlers were quickly out of the attack with Wong and Harris taking over after just six overs. The run rate slowed as these two bowled a much better line. A Wong yorker led to huge, confident, LBW appeal from all fielders around the bat, but was turned down, and Mumby survived. An even more vociferous and confident appeal followed later against Knight for a run-out, with the batsman well short of the crease, and that went unrewarded. He also survived, and the run rate slowed even further as Wong and Harris continued to peg away.

The break through for Tropical came when Knight swung across the line to a first up delivery from Slocombe – on in place of Wong – and was out plumb in front, at 86 for 1. Latore joined Mumby and the two pedaled along, taking a special liking to Slocome to bring up another fifty run partnership though the run rate fell to under 5 per over. Just when Mumby, on 76 (six 4s, one 6), seemed set for his second consecutive century he basically committed a suicidal act, attempting a second run that was never there, and Vibes was 144 for 2. Latore also soon went via the run out when he charged down the pitch for a run but Alexander stood his ground.

Then came a series of more mediocre fielding display by Tropical players: a glance into the hands of Lindo at square-leg, a pop-up to the wicketkeeper Givance, a skier to Powell at long-off, and a heave to Lindo this time at square-leg were all grassed. In between, there was a stunning one-handed catch by Lindo just inside the boundary, only to be followed by a terrible mis-judge by Hoilette to one lofted to him at mid-on. Vibes rode these golden gifts to post the formidable score of 253 for 9 with Smith and J. Powell chipping in with some late inning boundaries.

Givance and Lindo started the run chase impressively for Tropical as they attacked the short-pitched deliveries from Powell. This sprung a quick change by the Vibes captain, Sheriff Mark Baker. Edwards and Lambert were brought into the attack and they immediately placed a stranglehold on the Tropical batsmen. A forward defensive stroke became the regular offering.

Pic (Right): Givance: Stood tall but Tropical fell short

When Lindo tried to break the shackles by pulling at one from Edwards, he popped up to Dyer at mid-on with the score now at 53 for 1. Powell joined Givance but the struggle for runs continued and the overs rolled by. When Edwards completed his remarkable spell, his bowling line read 8 – 0 – 20 -1 (0 W, 0 NB); Lambert, at the other end, may not have been as miserly, but his line of 8 – 0 – 32 – 1 was just as rewarding with Givance (45, four 4s) being his victim.

Sensing that the game was slipping away, R. Hoilette got too aggressive with his stroke to a yorker from Alexander and was bowled. D. Hoilette, also trying to up the tempo was undone by Smith, and the agony ended for Powell when he holed out to Parchment in the deep off Alexander. The score read 120 for 5, and the Vibes crowd erupted. The required run rate had by now inched up to double digits.

Two huge sixes from Williams, along with one 6 and a couple of fours from Harris brought signs of life from the Tropical bench. Then a lull. Williams played all over one from Alexander and his stumps were pegged back. Now noise from the Vibes bench. Bennett joined Harris and a most bizarre play ensued. Bennett played one back down the track then spun around to dive back in the crease as the bowler picked up and had a throw at the stumps. Ball hit bat; appeal from all the close in fielders; decision – out; obstruction. Jubilation in the Vibes tents; fussing and yelling over at Tropical’s.

Wong fell for a duck at 168 for 8, and the required run rate climber even higher. But Harris was still at the crease, and with Ebanks the ninth wicket partnership soon reached fifty and the scored raced passed 200. More ebb and flow – noise in the Tropical tents; lull in Vibes’.

With Tropical at 232 and victory seemingly in sight, Ebanks strayed too far down to a wide one from Smith, and was smartly stumped by Knight. Ebb and flow. Last over; 15 needed; Harris on strike. 2, 2, off the first two deliveries. A drive to long-on off the third delivery; single taken. Grave miscalculation by the skipper. Three swings by Slocombe. With each swoosh, a dull thud echoed out of the keeper’s gloves. Harris, on 70 with five 4s and three 6s, could only watch from the non- strikers end and ponder what might have been.

Game over. Vibes wins.