Double ton delight for Outerbridge and Jones
BC Allrounders' Dano Outerbridge and Simon Jones of Forties both smashed their second centuries of the season as Commercial Cricket League players now turn their attention to the first round of the Knockout Cup, conclusion of the Twenty20 League Cup and their debut in the Bermuda Cricket Board's T20 competition after a Cup Match weekend break.
Outerbridge followed up his unbeaten 117 against Jamaican Association two weeks ago with an unbeaten 137 against newly-crowned champions Spring Garden Cavaliers, but could not prevent his side losing by six wickets, while Jones also made 137, a week after hitting an unbeaten 100 against North Village, as Forties had to settle for a winning draw against the Jamaicans in the final round of league matches.
League runners-up Forties piled up 331 for five after being sent in by nine-man Jamaican Association at Shelly Bay but failed to complete the double as the Jamaicans replied with 173 for six.
Jones, who struck 17 fours in his 114-ball 137, added 53 for the first wicket with skipper Gordon Campbell (40) and number three Kavi Selvarajah chipped in with 33 before some power hitting from David Campbell, who struck 46 from 28 balls, and Palithapushpara Kumara, who made 44 not out from 15 balls, helped Forties plunder 167 runs from the final 14 overs.
Skipper Ian Coke, pick of the Jamaican attack with two for 62 from ten overs, then denied Forties maximum points with an unbeaten 62 from 100 balls including seven fours after Michael Campbell struck 44 from 34 balls.
Forties' most successful bowlers were Blake West and Yatin Gawas, taking two for 45 from nine and two for 46 from 11 respectively.
"If the game was crucial for the league standings we would have declared with a few overs to spare, but we wanted to give as many people as possible a hit," said Forties' skipper Campbell.
"Simon followed on from last week with another cultured innings. He was chanceless until he achieved his century. The solid start allowed the later batsmen to open their shoulders. Sensible batting by Ian Coke and Presley Millwood (19 in 54 balls at number eight) ensured their three points."
Added Jones after his back-to-back centuries, a feat achieved by Cavaliers' opener Jeff DeSilva earlier in the season: "I've been lucky to be on a pretty good run of form recently.
"I keep thinking it's got to end sooner or later – but at the moment I'm just making the most of it.
"I'm not sure I'll be able to run too many quick singles after the last couple of weeks.
"A lot of the guys contributed with the bat and it was a shame we were not able to get the last two wickets and get the win."
Outerbridge was dropped at slip in the first over before taking advantage of a weakened Cavaliers attack to plunder 13 fours and seven sixes as he almost singlehandedly lifted BC Allrounders to 214 for six in a game reduced to 40 overs a side at Garrison Field. Next highest scorer was Kano Armstrong with 26, Barry Richards taking two for 33 from eight and top all-rounder Craig Smith two for 57 from 12.
For once, openers Donovan Livingston (30) and DeSilva (15) fell cheaply and, despite Richards' 25-ball 40, which included four sixes and three fours, Cavaliers slipped to 104 for four. But number six Smith teamed up with Richard Foulds to carry their side to victory, with almost five overs to spare, featuring in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 114 in 13 overs.
Smith smashed nine sixes and two fours in his unbeaten 71 from 31 balls while Foulds' 43 not out included two sixes and five fours.
Said Foulds: "Dano batted really well for Cavaliers after being dropped in the first over, combining watchful defence outside off stump with a powerful punishment of anything loose.
"Cavaliers' ship was listing slightly at 104 for four but one thing about this team is that we have such strength in depth. Craig was quite simply at his destructive best. He hit three consecutive sixes during one over which really settled any lingering doubt over the result."
Foulds praised skipper Dave Greenidge for "providing cohesion and leadership to the Cavaliers while maintaining an astute understanding of where best to place the field in order to take wickets and save runs".
Added Foulds: "Despite a lean season with the bat, where he has often unselfishly batted low down in the order, his captaincy is as much a reason for the league championship as Jeff DeSilva's runs, Barry Richards' power hitting or Craig Smith's all-round contributions."