Montserrat edges out Nevis in cliff hanger

Montserrat in the field

ZIZ Sports…Sept 28 2011-The Nevis team would have been sitting happy; after all, they had just notched up 189 for 5 from 40 overs versus Montserrat. The Montserrat team then lost one of their openers in the first over bowled by Nelson Boland, brilliantly caught by a diving Andre Browne at second slip. However, Zuan Sweeney sounded an ominous warning of things to come, when he smashed the very first delivery he faced from Boland, magnificently through extra cover for four.

However, down came the rain and this halted the game for a period of time and then everything changed. The Duckworth-Lewis method was applied and the Montserrat team was given a revised target of 163 runs from 30 overs.

Dalton Tuit and Zuan Sweeney then teamed up in an enterprising partnership and later captain Lionel Baker chipped in with a crucial 23. It came down to a nail biting finish for the small crowd on hand. Montserrat needed 3 runs with 1 wicket remaining and all of 9 balls still to be bowled.

Nevis batting

With one ball remaining, the scores were tied and Brian Stephanie smashed the delivery for four, much to the jubilation of his team mates. Montserrat had won by 1 wicket.

Earlier in the day, the teams were greeted with the news that the match originally coded as a two day fixture had to be changed to a one day fixture as certain systems were not in place to accommodate the fixture. Nevis batted first and got to 189 for 5 on the back of a brilliant half century from Kejel Tyson which included 3 sixes.

Montserrat’s seam bowler, Quinton Boatswain was the most impressive with two wickets and served to remove both Tonito Willet and Kejel Tyson in the same over, as the batsmen tried to increase the tempo.

When Nevis bowled, it was Jason Campbell who proved the most successful bowler but it just was not enough to prevent a Montserrat victory.

Summarized scores:
NEVIS-189 for 5 from 40 overs: Kejel Tyson 66; Carlon Smithen 37 and Tonito Willet 13
Quinton Boatswain 2 for 26; Lionel Baker 1 for 40; Deon Baker 1 for 38; Tevin Osbourne 1 for 19

Montserrat needing 163 from 30 overs (revised target) – 166 for 9 from exactly 30 overs: Dalton Tuit 46; Zuan Sweeney 33 and Lionel Baker 23
Jason Campbell 3 for 27; Nelson Boland 2 for 35 and Tonito Willet 1 for 10.