Mayers, Boucher power Pride to Super50 title

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

SKIPPER KYLE Mayers and Leniko Boucher blasted half-centuries as Barbados Pride romped to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in a lopsided CG United Super50 Cup final yesterday.

The Pride’s easy win was set up by left-arm bowlers Joshua Bishop and Dominic Drakes, with both snaring four wickets to lead the demolition of the home side’s batting, which was eventually bowled out for a paltry 168 in 42.3 overs.

Mayers then hit an unbeaten 89 off 79 balls, inclusive of seven sixes and six fours, while Boucher hit a run-a-ball 50 with nine fours and one six in a savage attack on T&T’s bowlers, as the visitors wasted little time in speeding to 169 for one in only 29.3 overs.

Facing a straightforward run chase, Mayers and Boucher started slowly by scoring just four runs in the first two overs.

But that changed soon after, with Mayers clobbering pacer Terrance Hinds for two fours and a six in the following over.

Boucher then joined in on the action by hitting Ricky Jaipaul for two boundaries in the fourth over.

And, when the pair combined to smash Joshua James and Jyd Goolie for a combined 31 runs in the eighth and ninth overs, respectively, the Pride had raced to 74 without loss after nine overs.

Mayers brought up his 10th List A half-century off 36 balls by smashing Goolie for two consecutive sixes to end the 13th over, which took the Pride to 103 without loss.

Boucher then reached his sixth List A half-century off 43 balls in the next delivery by driving Yannic Cariah to mid-on for a quick single.

Rough introduction

New bowler Navin Bidaisee was given a rough introduction by Mayers, who thumped him for two sixes and a four in the 15th over.

But, after being dropped at midwicket by Bidaisee off the bowling of Hinds, Boucher drove the next ball straight into the hands of James at midoff, to give T&T their first breakthrough at 122 for one.

Following a brief rain interruption, Mayers and Zachary McCaskie, who scored an unbeaten 19 off 48 balls, then guided the Pride to victory without any further alarms, to set off wild celebrations among their camp.

The efforts of Bishop and Drakes had earlier set the foundation, with T&T’s batters having no answer to the duo.

The decision to open the bowling with Bishop’s left-arm spin paid dividends when he had Cephas Cooper stumped for a first-ball duck with just nine runs on the board.

Amir Jangoo played a couple of lovely shots in his 20 off 27 balls, before his attempted paddle off spinner Kemar Smith ballooned to give wicketkeeper Boucher an easy catch, to leave the score 46 for two.

From a comfortable position of 75 for two, Bishop dismissed Jason Mohammed for 12 and bowled opener Tion Webster for 43 to leave the Red Force in a spot of bother at 84 for four.

Drakes then held on to a spectacular return catch, diving to his right to account for Red Force captain Joshua Da Silva, and trapped Bidaisee and Goolie lbw to put the Pride in firm control of the contest at 130 for seven.

The end came swiftly thereafter, with Bishop finishing with 4-27 and Drakes 4-34.