Frederick Smith come close to toppling Combermere

Tight bowling and a top-order tremor were the undoing of Frederick Smith as they took on Nicholls Baking Combermere in their first-ever final of the Barbados Cricket Association’s Sir Everton Weekes Schools Under-13 Cricket Competition. Playing at the Desmond Haynes Oval yesterday, Combermere edged out the St. James boys by 14 runs to take their ninth win in 13 finals over the years.

 

Frederick Smith won the toss and sent in the Waterford lads who were looking to be in a bit of trouble early on at 70 for the loss of five in the 14th over. However, opener Nimar Bolden (48) did his best to build partnerships as the wickets fell around him. His best bet came with captain Reuben Agard (9) as the pair struck up 37 before Agard’s dismissal at the hands of his counterpart, Giovante DePeiza.

 

DePeiza was most dangerous with the ball, taking three for 25 runs, while Ty Farrell helped to keep the runs down with two wickets of his own for 17 runs. His five-wicket spell included two maidens. Combermere would end the innings at 142 all out, but not before Jayden Small, Che Simmons and Deondre Scott added 20, 17 and 12 respectively.

With a good chance at causing an upset, Frederick Smith had a decent start. Openers, Thierry Walcott and Ty Farrell looked good and moved the ball around the field well to strike up a 44-run partnership. With Farrell gifting his wicket at ten runs Shayon Blenman in the 10th over, things became a bit shaky. Shomario DePeiza was in next and worked hard to keep the ship afloat with 49 runs. However, much like Bolden, the order fell around him.

 

After Walcott was given his walking papers, the next three batsmen were all sent back to the pavilion without a single run between them. Captain DePeiza, Elon Davis and Brandon Benn were all out for ducks with Tre Riley taking the scalps of the latter two. Riley took those two wickets in a seven-over spell along with two maidens. Che Simmons (2-17) and Trevino Alleyne (2-10) also assisted in keeping things tight for Combermere.

 

With Shomario being dismissed by Alleyne for 49, things took a turn for the worse for Frederick Smith. The team had lost its momentum and the lower order fought and failed to find it despite the mounting pressure on Combermere. Breathing a sigh of relief when Frederick Smith needed 15 runs from the final over and the batsman on-strike put his shot in the waiting hands of Alleyne on the first ball, the Waterford supporters knew the clash was done and dusted.