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With a performance reminiscent of the glory days of
years gone by, Tropical began a new era by edging
Vibes in the 2012 championship game to retain the
GSCL league title for their second in a row. A
splendid knock of 76 with four 4s and six 6s by Tony
“Pow Pow” Powell led the way, with amply support
from Dean Morgan, 26 including three 4s. Still it took
a last over heroics from Ryan Wong who launched two
6s and two 4s, sandwiched around holing out to long -
on off a noball, to carry Tropical past the magical 200
mark. In a hard fought inning were runs were scarce
they recovered from 42 for 3 off 12 to post a
formidable 210 all out. The spin twins of Slocombe
and Morgan then returned the impeccable figures of
8-2-23-3 and 8-0-35-3 respectively, aided by two
spectacular catches – one by Powell at slips to remove
Garrick, and the other a one handed over–the-head
take at long-on by Jamel Morgan to remove Bryce – as
Vibes fell 10 runs shorts in their run chase.The game began under clear skies, but with
temperatures hovering in the mid sixties and a slight
breeze blowing a few golden leaves across the now
graying field at Burdett Park. Autumn – as we know it
– signifying the end of the cricket season, with players
and spectators alike donning their heavy sweaters.
Tropical’s Givance won the toss and, without
hesitation, elected to take first strike.
Morgan and Mumby carefully negotiated the tricky
pace of the wicket and the tight bowling of Dyer and
Lyle to get 40 off the first 10 overs. A change in
bowling did the trick for Vibes. Morgan drove at one
from Williams and holed out to Dyer at deep midoff.
Givance then edged his first delivery to slips where
Brown took a splendid catch diving low to his left.
Powell survived the hat-trick ball. In the next over,
Mumby played all around one from Lyle and was
bowled. Suddenly it was three down. Powell and
Hoilette then staged a recovery with a 78 run fourth
wicket partnership, with Powell, in fine touch, leading
the way. The Vibes breakthrough came in the 29th over, when Brown had Hoilette caught for 18, with the score at 120 for 4. Powell then stepped into high gear
smashing Brown over mid-wicket and Francois over
extra cover. Suddenly a huge roar erupted around the
entire field of mostly Caribbean origin spectators. It
was not for Powell’s sixes but for West Indies victory
in the world T20. Dyer returned to pick-up three quick
wickets including that of Powell, caught at long on. At
184 for 9 in the 39th over it appeared as though
Tropical would have a sub 200 score. But then Wong
took center stage; his exclamation point - a towering
shot over long off, into the parking lot. Dyer finished
with 3 for 24, and Williams 4 for 65 – being victimized
by Wong’s assault, and too many no-balls.
In typical fashion, Vibes openers – Garrick and Bryce –
were off on a flier. But with the score on 22 in only the
second over, Garrick, after smashing Morgan for two
straight fours, swung at one wide of the stumps. The
edge flew low and wide to first slip where Powell dove
full length to snatch it. Later, Bryce also took the
attack to Morgan and sent one flying, only to have the
other Morgan pull off his spectacular act inches from
the boundary. Next, McFarlane failed to get on top of
square cut and was caught at point, and at 50 for 3 off 9 overs, the game swung to even. The pair of Williams and
Parchment settled down, and just as with the Tropical, the fourth
wicket partnership slowly grew and grew. Williams got to his half
century, and the score reached 126. Then disaster struck.
Williams failed to get underneath a flighted one from Slocombe
and was caught by Harris at long-off; Parchment’s loft off Powell
went straight to the man just inside the cover boundary; Avril
misread the straight one from Slocombe and was plumb in front,
and Lyle was bamboozled and bowled by a Morgan off-spinner.
The score now read 142 for 7! A session of will and nerves
followed. Dyer went on a rampage with three huge sixes, before
holing out to Harris off Slocombe’s last over. Brown clobbered a
six and a four, and then missed a full ball from Willams. Francois
worked the ball around to take the score to 200 with two overs
remaining, and the entire park fell quiet. When Ainsley edged to
the keeper, another roar erupted, this time from only half the field.
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