Vincy Premier T10 League 2020, Day 2, Highlights: Caribbean sees plenty of thrills

Kevin Abraham continues to pile up runs as he gloriously sweeps Richie Richards' spin to the boundary line. Shallow follows suit to the third man area, and the Rangers are cruising to victory now. 15 more runs needed from 24 balls.

After another big hit from Abraham (20*) through mid-on, the runrate was kept afloat as Rangers got 7 runs in the fourth over. His partner, Shallow (13*), continues his onslaught facing McCoy, and hit a six over the wicketkeeper's head. Everything's going wrong for Divers, and they are in dire need of wickets now. Rangers need 26 runs more to win.

Asif Hooper's initial elation of the wicket is dimmed down as Kevin Abraham just smashes him. A six and a four and he moves up to 12* in five balls itself. The incoming batsman did enough to cam the nerves of Rangers' fans.

Call it commentator's curse! Joey Welcome is off, he walks back to the pavilion as Asif Hooper dismisses him for 6. Can Grenadine Divers make use of the bowling pitch and defend their total of 66? Kevin Abraham is on though.

Romel Currency and Hyron Shallow (4*) open for the chasing team, Rangers. Obed McCoy has the ball in his hand to start the innings. And the chase starts off positively with a confident boundary by Shallow. But Divers get their breakthrough as they dismiss Currency. Joey Welcome (6*) comes on and tries to form a good partnership in the second over. 

Tijourn Pope joins in on the act and he hits a massive six to Kesrick Williams' final over. They manage to get 8 runs from it and finish the innings on 66/5. Wayne Harper high scores for Grenadine Divers with 22*. Kenneth Dember is the bowler with the best figures of 2/4. Botanic Garden Rangers now need 67 runs to win. 

After Razzine Browne is bowled for a duck by Dember, Divers somehow manage to show some promise in the ninth over. Wayne Harper shows his experience and hits a massive six and ends the over after getting 9 runs from it. Can they finish it with aplomb?

Things go from bad to wore for Grenadine Divers as Obem McCoy is now walking back to the pavilion. The batsman tried to go for a maximum but is instead caught near the boundary line. The wicket's taken by Kenneth Dember. GD are 48/4 now.

Wayne Harper (16*) has got to assume responsibility now and guide the incoming Obed McCoy if Divers aim to put on a big score. Three overs remaining and one of which will be bowled by Kesrick Williams. 

After scoring just five runs in the sixth over, the captain Hooper tried to up the ante and went for a big shot. He is instead caught easily and he departs for 5 having been dismissed by Casnel Morris. The Divers are on 45/3 after 6.4 overs.

After Browne (11) hits Nigel Small beautifully through extra-cover for a boundary off the first ball of the over, he is bowled in that over and Rangers get their breakthrough. Richie Richards (8) came and hit the bowler for a six, but in the next over itself he is dismissed by Ray Charles, caught near the rope. Asif Hooper (1*) and Wayne Harper (12*) finish the over for Divers on the crease.

The bowling regiment of the Botanic Garden Rangers are quite well-drilled. Neither Browne nor Harper can think of any way to counter the pace and the trickery, and the runrate continues to decrease. But in the fourth ball of Kimali Williams' over, Divers get their first boundary through Browne. Time to get it up and running?

Kenneth Dembar comes in for the second over for the Rangers, and his first delivery made Harper feel uncomfortable.Couple with his action, Dembar's spin early on reaped rewards for Rangers as they concede just 2 runs. 

The toss was won by Botanic Garden Rangers and they chose to field first. Grenadine Divers start the match with Shem Browne (0*) and Wayne Harper (1*) opening for them. Kesrick Williams starts the over brilliantly. After four balls, Divers open their account with a single. Good start by Williams' Rangers!

Both Grenadine Divers and Botanic Garden Rangers are yet to win any match in the league, so both the teams will be amped up to get their first-ever VPL win. 

Fort Charlotte Strikers face their second defeat in as many days as Jaheil Walters (3*) and Ray Jordan (6*) can't do much in the end to reach the target of 89. The Salt Pond Breakers win the match by 20 runs as they restricted their opposition to 68/5. Next up is Grenadine Divers vs Botanic Garden Rangers. 

The Salt Pond Breakers have pushed their field all the way back to the ropes, saving the boundaries. Delorn Johnson is capable enough of complementing his field. 4 runs of that over and then there is a wicket off the last ball. This is going to be the second match of the league to be won by the team batting first. 60/5 after 9 overs, need 28 to win in last over

Wicket! Stowe perishes in the deep in trying to clear the field again. A short innings, but could it have given the Strikers a bit of a chance in the last two overs? A catch is dropped in the deep off the last ball. 56/4 after 8 overs
This is still very difficult. 32 runs needed in 2 overs. Delorn Johnson to bowl the critical 9th over.

A six off the second ball of the 8th over. Down the ground. And Stowe pulls for four to fine leg off the third ball. The bowler responds by bowling a wide. And then there's a second six in the over off the 4th ball. Stowe has infused sudden life into tbis chase in this over. 53/3 after 7.4 overs

The required run rate now above 15. The Strikers' middle order - Stowe and Williams - are failing to connect much with anything as the Breakers continue bowling on disciplined lines. A pull goes to the fine leg fence for four to bring some runs up for Renrick Williams. 36/3 after 7 overs

Wicket! Pope is dismissed for 12. The Salt Pond Breakers are now convincingly in control of this game. Sunil Ambris the unlikely hero with the ball. His second wicket, this one. And Pope's wicket will have put this game beyond the Strikers' reach surely. 29/3 after 5.4 overs

Jeremy Layne maintains good control in his second over as well as the pressure continues to build on the Strikers. Pope and Cottroy trying to swing at every ball now, but they are failing to connect well enough. And there is a wicket off the last ball. 2 overs 1/8 for Jeremy Layne. What a spell! Cottroy gone. Renrick Williams, the new man in at 4, also comes out without a helmet. Ambris to bowl the sixth. Strikers 27/2 after 5 overs

Keron Cottoy moves himself up the order to No 3. Taking the fight to the opposition here. There is a stumping appeall against Pope. Ambris's over is giving the batting team quite some trouble, Pope is beaten through to the keeper. He gets a single off the last ball. The required run rate is climbing. 22/1 after 4 overs

Ambris brings himself on to bowl the 4th over, possibly in anticipation that he will need his premier bowlers when this chase goes down to the wire. And he picks up a wicket. Ronald Scott's tortorous stay - 2 from 12 deliveries - comes to an end. Caught and bowled by the skipper. 19/0 after 3.2 overs

Scott heaves and misses at a few more in the 3rd over. Stapleton, the bowler, doing well to bowl short and wide. In the blind spot of Scott's bat arc. 16/0 after 2.4 overs. Scott has 2 runs to show from his 9 balls.

Pope's opening partner Ronald Scott, who has come out to face the fast bowlers without a helmet - thus proving that some safety precautions will continue to be ignored regardless of the Covid timeline - plays out the 2nd over without much incident. Both batsmen run through a few singles. Scott tries to heave wildly at the last ball but his eyes were not on the ball and he misses. 14/0 after 2 overs

Delorn Johnson bowls to Gidron Pope - one of the more highly vaunted individual duels in this league. Johnson bowls a brilliant ball first up but the catch is dropped by the keeper. The second ball produces a six over long on from Pope. The third ball is ona good line, almost draws an edge from the left hander. And the fourth ball then produces an unbelievable result - Pope is dropped! Again! In the slips this time. A regulation catch. Delorn Johnson cannot believe his luck. Gidron Pope is living a charmed life. 10/0 after 1 over

A smash past backward point for four to end the innings. 88/6 is the final score. A good recovery from the Salt Pond Breakers, with Donwell Hector staying there till the end, unbeaten on 14. Delorn Johnson and Ambris's knocks valuable in that total. The Strikers need 89 to win in their 10 overs when we come back for the chase in a very short while.

And the 10th over is a big one as well. Donwell Hector connects with a couple to send them flying to the fence. And then he is bowled off the fourth ball. Ray Jordan celebrates with a quirky little dance. An intense finish to the innings. 83/6 with two balls to go.

Delorn Johnson is making the most of the 9th over. Another huge six in that over. This is making up for the lull in scoring in the middle overs. But then he is bowled off the fifth ball. A quick 20-run cameo from him. That has done the Breakers total a world of good. Another huge six to end the over from the new man. 75/5 after 9 overs

Delorn Johnson the new man in. Even apart from his bowling, Johnson is known as a clean hitter in T20 cricket. Can he help the Breakers push on in the three overs that remain? Yes he can. He smashes a big one! Over long on for six. Finally some big hitting from the Breakers. That ball is out of the stadium. A delay as a new ball is called for. 56/4 after 7.3 overs

The Strikers have pulled it back after Ambris's wicket. And to drive the point home, Sween is bowled off the last ball of the 7th over. And the Breakers sink deeper into trouble. 47/4 after 7 overs. Looks like we are on course for another modest total.

Disaster for the Breakers. Ambris, who was looking so good today, is out lbw. Goes down on his knee and heaves wildly, the ball hits his pads and the umpire slowly raises her finger. Ambris goes for 29. 40/2 after 4.4 overs
And it's a double whammy. Urnel Thomas, who played a decent hand yesterday, is out first ball. Run out. Hector did not respond to his call and Urnel is stranded in the middle of the pitch. 40/3 after 4.5 overs

Ambris moves into double figures with his second boundary - a swivelled pull in the third over. He is leading the Salt Pond Breakers innings, but they are yet to get off to a good start. 22/1 after 3 overs. The spinner beats him on a couple of occasions but Ambris is good enough to drive him for fours twice as well. Ambris is having a bit of a communication issue with Hecotr but that's no trouble because he is dealing in boundaries now. 33/1 after 4 overs

Not a good start for the Salt Pond Breakers. Sunil Ambris is still there but he has lost his opening partner and No 3 Donwell Hector is yet to get off the marl. Runs coming in ones and twos, interspersed with loud appeals.

Salt Pond Breakers bat first. Sunil Ambris gets them off with a boundary. Five runs come off the first over. 5/0 after 1 over

Fort Charlotte Strikers vs Salt Pond Breakers is the second match of the day. It will be starting in a few more minutes.

Dean Browne bowls a perfect last over. The last ball of the match goes for a four but that is not enough. The Hikers have won by 6 runs. A high-scoring match, the highest-scoring match of the competition so far, but at the end of it, the Hikers win their second match in as many days. This is the first VPL T10 match won by the team batting first.

Run out! The Explorers' run chase has come to an end, it would seem. Lindon James is run out in an attempt to get a quick single. He goes for 48. He will be bitterly disappointed. 

Dean Browne, the bowler, wins the first ball. Lindon fails to hit it anywhere but onto his boots. One run scampered through. And there's a dot ball to follow. Dean Browne carrying the Hikers' hopes in the last over. 12 to win off 4.

Shamon Hooper gets back to back fours with two nice looking cut shots. Some support for Lindon James. Othneil Lewis, who bowled a beautiful first over, goes for runs in his second. The batsmen do not take a single off the last ball, which means Lindon will be on strike for the last over. 13 runs required off the last over. 12 runs for a Super Over.

Lindon James, on 42, is joined by Shamon Hooper. It all rests on Lindon now. 26 from 2 overs is very achievable is he sticks on. His wicket, however, will put the Hikers on the ascendancy straightaway.

Rayan Williams has an inauspicous start to the 8th over. Three wides in the over already. Lindon James moves into his 40s. Can he score the first 50 of this tournament? Williams bowls a fourth wide in the over. Pressure telling on him in these late stages. Some of his teammates giving him a few things to think about with their shouts. And the next ball produces a catch in the deep. The Explorers lose their second wicket. Kensley Jopseph is out for 3. 83/2 after 7.5 overs

As long as Lindon James is in the middle, this match ios far from over. Two big sixes in that over. He moves his score to 35 and his team to a run rate above 10. Three overs left. 39 to get. Can go either way from here.

Greaves is out. A top edge flies into the sky and the keeper gets under it. Lindon James loses his partner at a time when he would not have wanted to. 57/1 after 6 overs.
Not an unachievable target this, but this is becoming more and more difficult for the Explorers. Haywood comes back for his second over.

Lindon James gets the shackles off somewhat with a smashed pull off Haywood. Six. Not too many runs other than that in that over =. Half of the innings is over, and while the Explorers have not lost any wickets, the run rate is becoming a little troubling for them. 46/0 after 5 overs. James on 21, Greaves on 20.

Greaves and James are finding scoring more difficult than it has seemed in the first over, which had been bowled by Douglas. Jeremy haywood, who was the Hikers' hero with the ball yesterday, is brought on now for his first over. 35/0 after 4 overs

The second over starts off with two wides. A comparatively less eventful over than the first one. Deron Greaves and Lindon James carry on moving the score along without loss of wickets. Othneil Lewis bowls a terrific 3rd over. Douglas leaked runs with his spin bowling in the first over, but Othneil Lewis, like yesterday, pulls it back with a superb over for the Hikers. Just 2 runs off his over. 25/0 after 3 overs

Lindon James also gets past the ropes off his first ball. Slams it past the bowler's head. 14 runs come off the first over. This chase is already on. The bowler gets something out of the over with a dot ball off the last ball of the over. 14/0 after 1 over.

The Explorers start their chase off with a boundary past point on the second ball. They are trying to chase down 110 in 10 overs. All three matches yesterday were won by the chasing team, but this is the first time the chasing team are chasing a score in excess of 100. And there is another four off the third ball. Deron Greaves the batsman making the most of this first over.

The pressure of runs not coming as freely as before tells on the batsmen. Dean Browne slashes hard on the off side but the ball lands safely in the hands of the point fielder. He goes for 17. And the new man in cannot get bat to ball for his life. Four dot balls to start off the last over. A sensational last few overs to end the innings for the Explorers. A single comes off the 5th ball. The boundaries simply dried up for the batting team towards the end. Hikers reach 109/6 after 10 overs. The Explorers need 110 to win.

Darrius Martins bowls a tight 9th over. Gets his line and length perfect as Dean Browne and Othnell Lewis fail to get him away for much. However, the team 100 is brought up - the first time the three-digit mark has been breached in this competition. Dean Browne will be on strike in the last over. 104/5 after 9 overs

Greaves strike again. After Browne's wicket, he picks up the new man as well with some sharp turn. And then the No 6 batsman is also out for a first ball duck. The 8th over has turned out to be a good one for the Explorers. Dean Browne still out there and he will be hoping to make the most of the last two overs. 96/5 after 8 overs

Dean Browne gets a six to start the 8th over. And then Dillon Douglas is out in a needless attempt to play a reverse sweep. He goes for 41. Such an anti-climactic end to his innings. 96/3 after 7.3 overs

Dillon Douglas is murdering the 7th over. He moves his score to 40. Could end up with the highest score of the competition till now. A four and a six off the first two balls and two runs ran through for the next three balls. 16 runs off the over. Three overs remain and the Hikers reach 89/2 after 7 overs

Salvan Browne loses his wicket in trying to play one big shot too many. Both openers have now gone. However, the Hikers continue on their charge. New batsman Dean Browne, who joins Douglas, gets two fours straightaway. Pounces on the side short balls thrown at him.

Dillon Douglas gave one chance to the fielding team, but the fielder drops it at long off. Big miss! Still, that is one of the least expensive overs in the match. Both Douglas and Browne have reached 25 runs now. The Hikers are well set to reach 100 in their innings.

Back to back fours from Dillon Douglas. The Explorers look distraught in the field. Their bowlers' lack of pace playing right into the batsmens' hands right now. Salvan Browne gets strike for the second half of the over and he hits a massive six on the off side. Swings and misses at the fifth and the last ball of the over as well. Precious dot balls for the Explorers in the middle of this carnage. 49/1 after 4 overs