It was the turn of Atiba Allert yesterday, as the fast bowler took five wickets to lead Merry Boys to the Shanghai Construction Group National League title with one round remaining, after winning first innings points and earning enough bonus points against Queen's Park at the Queen's Park Oval.
After bowling only three overs in the first innings, Allert ended with 5/33 off nine overs in the second. Resuming on 58/7 yesterday in the first innings, Queen's Park was eventually dismissed for 81, giving Merry Boys a huge 102-run lead. Barbadian fast bowler Javon Searles finished with 6/28, while Rayad Emrit took 3/14. National allrounder Akeal Hosein top scored with 26 for the Parkites.
Bajan pacer Fidel Edwards, who grabbed 4/50 in the first innings, took 4/54 in the second to dismiss Merry Boys for 139. Hosein snatched 2/15, while Aaron Alfred top scored for Merry Boys with 29 runs.
Chasing 242 for victory, Queen's Park lost two quick wickets, as Justin Guillen (4) and Jeremy Solozano (2) were dismissed as the home team was reduced to 6/2. The Parkites escaped with a draw, closing on 124/9 thanks to 39 from Darren Bravo and an unbeaten 32 from Hosein at the end of the innings.
Merry Boys picked up 15 points from the match, moving to 224 points. Second-placed Queen's Park only got eight points and is now on 195 points. A team can get a maximum of 28 points from a match, therefore even if Merry Boys lose next weekend and Queen's Park win, the Parkites cannot make up the difference.
At Queen's Park Oval: Merry Boys 183 (Jeetendra Sookdeo 43, Marlon Richards 30, Fidel Edwards 4/50, Shannon Gabriel 3/41) and 139 (Aaron Alfred 29, Sookdeo 26, Edwards 4/54, Akeal Hosein 2/15, Gabriel 2/20) vs QPCC 81 (Hosein 26, Daron Cruickshank 19, Javon Searles 6/28, Rayad Emrit 3/14) and 124/9 (Darren Bravo 39, Hosein 32, Atiba Allert 5/33, Richards 2/19) Match Drawn
At Syne Village: Powergen 307/9 dec (Gregory Mahabir 69, Denesh Ramdin 63, Uthman Mohammed 4/78, Narsingh Deonarine 3/42) vs Preysal 375 (Eugene La Fleur 108, Deonarine 77, Bryan Charles 49, Vaaroon Samaroo 5/127, Kavesh Kantasingh 3/124) Match Drawn
At California: Caldrac 350/7 dec (Franklyn Rouse 116 no, Mark Deyal 100, Omesh Ramoutar 43, Nishal Gayadeen 4/101) and 255/6 dec (Neil Williams 102, Rouse 69, Royston Crandon 59, Hanuman Moonsammy 4/50) vs Munroe 179 (Michael Harry 61, Kieron Joseph 46, Kapil Harry 30, Dane Teelucksingh 7/43, Ancil Nedd 3/29) Match Drawn
At Honeymoon Park: Comets 392 (Andy Gobin 134, Steven Katwaroo 67, Richard Kelly 50, Anthony Simmons 4/63) and 57/0 (Katwaroo 27 no) vs Moosai 340 (Omar Phillips 113, Alden Daniel 61, Simmons 55, Imran Khan 5/129, Marlon Bharath 2/49, Raj Nanan 2/51) Match Drawn
At Bamboo: Esmeralda 298 (Keon Issac 47, Anthony D'Andrade 47, Kerwin Sirju 46, Yannic Cariah 3/64) and 135 (Stephan Murray 46, Issac 28, Selvin Jacobs 4/35, Nashwan Latchman 2/13) vs Bamboo 200 (Cariah 101, Bryan Boodram 4/38, Rishi Jaipaul 2/31) and 87 (Cariah 21, Teshaun Castro 5/36, Rishard Harris 5/42) Esmeralda won by 146 runs
At Tableland: Tableland 109 (Lincoln Roberts 38, Amir Khan 22, Derone Davis 8/41) and 20/1 vs Clarke Road 113 (Adrian Ali 37, Daniel St Clair 5/40, Khan 4/17) Match Abandoned