Bay and Islanders in another showdown
Eastern Counties champions Bailey’s Bay will rest their title on the line against fierce rivals St David’s at Lords tomorrow.Both teams have remained mostly intact from the last time they locked horns in the century old competition at Sea Breeze Oval last season where Bay prevailed by seven wickets in a lopsided affair.Azendea Furbert is the only change in Bay’s team. The teenage all-rounder has been recalled to replace star batsman Tre Manders who is currently representing an ICC Americas Select at the West Indies Regional Under-19 One-Day Tournament in St Kitts.Furbert is fresh off a solid knock of 59 in Bay’s successful Junior Eastern Counties title defence against Cleveland at Sea Breeze Oval last weekend and will likely feature in the champions’ middle order.St George’s captain Oronde Bascome is the sole change in St David’s squad having been recalled to replace wicketkeeper/batsman Chris Foggo.Both teams boast players with international and Cup Match experience and have depth in both the batting and bowling departments.Bay will again rely heavily on skipper Stephen Outerbridge, Rodney Trott, Terryn Fray, Cal Dill and Sinclair Smith to score the bulk of their runs.Outerbridge, the Bermuda captain, stroked a century (116) in Bay’s 49 run over challengers Cleveland County in the first round of the competition while Trott chipped in with 41 and claimed two wickets with his off break spin.Seamer Burton Outerbridge, who claimed four for 62 against the Islanders in his team’s convincing Counties win against the Islanders last season, will likely again share the new ball with Kyle Hodsoll.The pair will be backed up by fellow seamers Lateef Trott — who made his Cup Match debut this year as a St George’s colt — and former Bermuda and St George’s Cup Match player Ryan Steede who is making only his second appearance in the competition.Trott did the most damage with the ball in Bay’s first round win against Cleveland County at Lords last month, claiming four for 51 that included the prized scalps of Dion Stovell and Allan Douglas Jr.Rodney Trott will again form the backbone of Bay’s spin attack that also includes the evergreen Dill.Sinclair Smith will handle wicketkeeping duties for Bay.In order to stand any chance of retaining the cup, Bay’s bowlers will have to contain a St David’s batting order that boasts the explosive Chris Douglas, skipper OJ Pitcher, Fiqre Crockwell, Loren Marshall, Delyone Borden and Sammy Robinson.Like Bay, the Islanders have a balanced bowling attack spearheaded by pacers George O’Brien Jr and Justin Pitcher who will be backed up by spinners Borden, Robinson and Del Hollis.Former national team and St George’s Cup Match player Fiqre Crockwell keep behind the stumps for the Islanders who beat Bay by six runs in a league match at Lords last month.St David’s ground staff have gone to lengths to produce a fast track and it now remains to be seen whether it will suit the quicks or slow bowlers in what is forecast to be overcast conditions.Today’s contest consists of 118 overs with the team batting first allowed to bat 70 overs and the team batting second 48.The match starts at 10am.Bailey’s Bay: Stephen Outerbridge (capt), Rodney Trott, Terryn Fray, Azendea Furbert, Sinclair Smith, Cal Dill, Christino Smith, Ryan Steede, Lateef Trott, Burton Outerbridge, Kyle Hodsoll,St David’s: OJ Pitcher Jr (capt), Delyone Borden (vice-captain), Fiqre Crockwell, George O’Brien Jr, Loren Marshall, Justin Pitcher, Oronde Bascome, Chris Douglas, Sammy Robinson, Rudell Pitcher, Del Hollis.