Former T&T Red Force all-rounder Navin Stewart struck a belligerent 48 but it was not enough to save his team Rain Forest Rangers in their opening match of the Chief Secretary Bago T10 Cricket Blast Tournamet against the Buccoo Reef Divers at the Cyd Gray Sports Complex on Friday evening in Tobago.
Stewart's Rangers were left requiring 21 runs off the final over when opposing skipper Jahron Alfred took the ball. He sent Stwart back first ball and Rangers fell short by 12 runs in pursuit of 103 runs for victory.
Divers batted first and counted 102 for seven off their 10 overs. Alfred got them off to a flyer striking 25 runs off 12 balls with three fours and a six. Antonio Providence his opening partner was equal to the task as they put together 54 runs in just 3.5 overs. After the fall of Alfred and Providence for a 24-ball 33, Rangers came back in the contest and restricted Divers to 102/7. Orlando James 2/22 and Ancil Nedd 2/11 were the picks of the bowlers. Stewart was also good and took 1/15.
Stewart then tried his best with the bat getting 48 off 27 balls with six maximums. Apart from him, only Kevon Samuel with 19 troubled the Divers. Alfred took 2/12 and Freedom McKenna 2/13.
In the first game, it was skipper Lerron Lezama starring to take Little Tobago Islanders to victory over the highly-fancied Fort King George by eight wickets.
West Indies under-19 player Joshua James 22 top-scored for his team Fort King George as they batted first and scored 97/7 off their 10 overs. Andy Davis 2/12 and Damian Ramsey 2/18 were at the top of their game as they restricted the free-flowing Fort George batsmen.
Lezama then took over with the bat to crack an imperious 54 not out to snatch victory by eight wickets. He faced just 25 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes.
The competition was carded to continue last night weather permitting, as Tobago was under a Tropical storm Gonzalo watch.
BAGO T10 BLAST SCORES
At Cyd Gray Sports Complex
Fort King George 97/7 (10) (Joshua James 22, Selvin Duncan 18, Nolan Orr 15, Andy Davis 2/12, Damian Ramsey 2/18) vs Little Tobago Islanders 98/2 (7.1) (Lerron Lezama 54no, Damian Ramsey 18) - Little Tobago Islanders won by 8 wkts.
Buccoo Reef Divers 102/7 (Antonio Providence 33, Jahron Alfred 25, Ancil Nedd 2/11, Orlando James 2/22) vs Rain Forest Rangers 90/5 (Navin Stewart 48, Kevon Samuel 19, Jahron Alfred 2/12, Freedom McKenna 2/13) - Divers won by 12 runs.