Showing the grit of champions, Wildey defeated Superb Blend Gladiola by 51 runs to retain their title in the 2025 Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Elite/Division 1 Super Cup Championship at Kensington Oval on Sunday.
The 2024 champions overcame a tough start to claw their way back into the game after Gladiola held the advantage during the early sessions of play. Taking first knock after winning the toss, Wildey lost their first two wickets with the score on 15. Zachary McCaskie was out LBW for 12 after playing a few careless shots, while West Indies U19 captain Joshua Dorne was bowled for zero, both falling to the experienced fast bowler, Miguel Cummins.
Opening batsman Demetrius Richards batted steadily with Captain Carlos Maynard as the pair added 70 for the fourth wicket. During the 27th over Gladiola seized control of the innings with their spinners, Ashley Nurse and Giovonte Depeiza. The pair removed the next four batters as Wildey went from 123/3 to 130/7 in the span of 18 balls. Maynard scored 42 in 46 balls while Richards added 40 in 78 balls.
Star of the match Deswin Currency came to the crease at number eight and was able to partner with Jaden Leacock for what would turn out to be a match saving innings. The pair added 52 for the eighth wicket. Leacock scored 29 in 47 balls before he was dismissed by Cummins with the score now 182/8.
Currency stepped into another gear to close the innings with number 11 batter Tariq Oneale. Adding 45 runs in the final 5 overs, Currency came in on an unbeaten 56 in 62 balls. Wildey climbed to a defendable total of 227/9 in their allotted 50 overs.
For Gladiola, Cummins picked up four wickets for 47 runs while Nurse added three wickets for 36 runs.
Off spinner Oneale who opened the bowling, got Wildey off to a great start when he removed the in-form Rashawn Ramsay for two. In similar fashion to the Wildey innings, Gladiola rebuilt slowly but lost a cluster of wickets after the first powerplay, going from 62/2 to 86/6 in a span of five overs with Oneale accounting for three more wickets.
Ashley Nurse, batting deep in the order at number eight along with wicket keeper batsman Carlon Bowen-Tuckett formed a 62-run partnership for the seventh wicket before Nurse was caught at long-off on 44 to give Jerome Jones his lone scalp on the day. Score now 148/7.
Being reintroduced into the attack Oneale cleaned up the innings to grab his fifth wicket while Currency and Zishan Motara picked up two a piece to end the hopes of Gladiola, bowling them out for176 from 37 overs.
Currency was named Player of the Match after his excellent half century and bowling figures of 2/31 while Oneale picked up 5/29 in his 10 overs.
Wildey will be looking to cap a successful 2025 BCA season as they are currently runaway favourites to win the three-day competition, leading by a whopping 33 points with two series of games remaining.
Summarised scores:
Wildey 227-9 (50 overs) (Deswin Currency 56 not out – 62 balls, 4 fours, 1 six; Carlos Maynard 42, Demetrius Richards 40, Jaden Leacock 29; Miguel Cummins 4-47, Ashley Nurse 3-36, Giovonte Depeiza 2-45).
Gladiola 176 all out (37.2 overs) (Ashley Nurse 44, Carlon Bowen-Tuckett 42, Zidan Harewood 30, Giovonte Depeiza 27; Tariq O’Neale 5-29, Zishan Motara 2-24, Deswin Currency 2-31).
Toss: Wildey.
Player-Of-The-Match: Deswin Currency.
(ZM)
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