Soca Kings prevailed in the battle of the unbeaten teams in the Dream 11 T10 Trinidad Blast with a narrow five-run win over Fides Limited Scarlet Ibis Scorchers at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, San Fernando on Tuesday.
Both teams came in with huge expectations and reputations as they both showed they can score in excess of 130. But on Monday the bowlers showed what they are capable of.
Soca Kings were asked to bat first and they got a 49-run opening stand from Kirstan Kallicharan and Jesse Bootan who both scored 29 and 23 runs, respectively. Kallicharan hit four fours and one six in his top score from 15 balls and Bootan hit three fours and one six in his knock from just 16 balls.
Kallicharan was first out at 49 when Jordan Samkaran trapped him in front of the stumps, and then Bootan followed at 67/2. The dangerous Dejourn Charles made only 21 from just ten deliveries faced, and when his wicket fell at 86 for three in the eighth over, Soca Kings' hope of getting anywhere close to 130 fell with it.
Soca Kings eventually got to 102/6 from their 10 overs.
In reply, the Scorchers lost Kamil Pooran for two when the score was 5/1 in the second over, caught by Dejourn Charles off the bowling of Jon Russ Jagessar. Tion Webster followed soon after when he edged to wicketkeeper Keegan Jagessar for one. After Vikesh Harrylochan departed for eight at 33/3, the Scorchers were in a spot of bother with five overs and two balls, already gone.
Dexter Sween joined opener Joshua Da Silva and together they took the score to 85/4, with some huge shots. Sween scored 30 from just 14 balls with three fours and two sixes. Da Silva scored 41 from just 26 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Sween was out on the last ball of the ninth over and Da Silva was out on the second ball of the last over as the hope of a victory evaporated.
Scorchers eventually got to 97/5, six runs short of the win.
Jesse Bootan was named "Man of the Match".
SCORES
Soca Kings vs Fides Limited Scarlet Ibis Scorchers.
Soca Kings 102 for 6 (10 overs) (Kirstan Kallicharan 29, Jesse Bootan 23, Dejourn Charles21, Bryan Charles 3-25) vs Scarlet Ibis Scorchers 97 for 5 (10 overs) (Joshua Da Silva 41, Dexter Sween 30, Jon Russ Jagessar 2-16). Soca Kings won by 5 runs.
Giants T&T By Maq Group vs Steelpan Players
Giants 79 for 3 (9 overs) (Suraj Seepaul 32 not out, Mark Deyal 18, Isaiah Rajah 1-4) vs Steelpan Players 87 for 2 (7.4 overs) (Isaiah Rajah 65 not out, Justyn Gangoo 2-1). Steelpan Players won by 8 wickets (DL Method).