Shamario Depeiza opened the Barbados Community Cricket Programme (BCCP) Block T20 with a bang.
The St Lucy skipper punched six fours and four sixes in his 72 off 40 balls as his team piled pressure on St Joseph in the competition’s opening innings on Monday at the Horatio Cooke Sports Complex in Gall Hill, St. John.
Up to press time, St Lucy had reached 194 for four in 20 overs with fellow opener Achilles Browne dismissed by Nitre Prescod for 56 from 41 balls.
Prescod also accounted for the wicket of Depeiza. Kai McCollin picked up two wickets for 11 runs in two overs.
Earlier, Minister of Sport Charles Griffith and Deputy Director of the National Sports Council Emerson Bascombe greeted the teams, umpires, and coaches ahead of the delayed 7:15 p.m. start.
St Joseph captain Shakeem Boyce elected to bowl, having won the first toss of the tournament.
“The wicket looks a bit damp. I believe it will be slow, but it’s just a matter of getting them restricted to a reasonable total and get the runs right after,” he said, before Depeiza and Browne rushed to 71 without loss at the end of the powerplay.
Unsuccessful at the toss, Depeiza indicated his team’s preference had indeed been to take first knock.
“If I had won the toss, I would have batted first. I don’t think [the pitch] is going to get much better. It might be a little slow upfront, but I just feel the guys need to give themselves a chance and put a good total upfront. In T20 cricket, chasing, scoreboard pressure always comes into play,” said the former Gladiola club cricketer.
Minister Griffith noted his satisfaction with the opening presentation of the inaugural competition.
“I am pleased about the turnout in terms of the teams. They seem well prepared for this, and I fully expect that this tournament would pick up as we do some more public relations,” he said.
Touching on the purpose of the initiative, Griffith added: “This tournament is about the development of some of these youngsters who are on the blocks. It is not a situation where they are playing to win a big set of money or anything of that nature. We’re trying to provide an opportunity for youngsters to have access to sports.”
He mentioned that the Block T20 is part of the government’s movement to invest in local cricket.
“Cricket is our leading sport on island, we’ve had more people at the international level in cricket than any other sport. If we can have cricket ballooned at the grassroots level then the diamonds in the rough are something that we should be able to uncover,” he said.
Ahead of the upcoming Grand Kadooment weekend, the minister sent a message to the youth of Barbados: “Government is doing so much for the young people on this island. If you can name it, then government is able to provide an opportunity for those youngsters who want that opportunity.
“Yes, go and party but after Kadooment, get in contact with my ministry and I’m sure that there is some project, some particular programme that we can get you hooked up to that you would be engaged. The projects are there,” he concluded.
Block T20 continues on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with St Peter clashing with eSt Andrew at Boscobelle, St Thomas facing St James at Melbourne, and St Lucy battling St Peter at Boscobelle respectively.
The competition concludes on August 29.
rohansonnwaithe@barbadostoday.bb
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