We did it for Crockwell, says Pitcher
St David’s players huddled together in the middle to pay a moving tribute to late team-mate Fiqre Crockwell moments after clinching the Logic Premier League at Lord’s on Saturday.
An emphatic 127-run triumph over Western Stars earned the home side a fourth league title in six seasons, which was promptly dedicated to Crockwell, who was fatally shot in June.
“We said a prayer and again dedicated the season to Fiqre and his entire family,” said OJ Pitcher, the St David’s captain, who missed the final game of the league season because of a knee injury.
“It’s been a rough season for us and we have been through a lot losing our close friend and colleague Fiqre. There’s going to be a lot of emotions over the next few days.
“We have had our ups and downs this season and for the guys to pull through means that much more to the community and this [league title] is for the whole community.”
St David’s won the title with a dominant display that Crockwell would have certainly been proud of.
They piled up 287 for three in their allotted overs after being put in to bat, with Delyone Borden and Justin Pitcher both blasting swashbuckling centuries.
The two early-order batsmen put a blunted Stars attack to the sword, with Pitcher blasting 104 and Borden hitting 100 to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
Together the pair added 172 runs for the second wicket to virtually bat the visiting side out of the match.
Borden reached his century in the 32nd over off 90 balls in 126 minutes while Pitcher’s arrived three overs later off 72 balls in 95 minutes.
“In the last few years Justin has come up short with the bat but today he proved himself,” Pitcher said. “Delyone has been consistent for us all season at the top of the order and today once again proved his worth.”
Shannon Rayner chipped in with 32 and along with Borden added 70 runs for the first wicket before the fireworks began.
Swayne Campbell and Khiry Furbert bore the brunt of the carnage as they both went for 17 runs in a single over as Borden and Pitcher cut loose and found the gaps with ease.
Makai Young was Stars’ most economical bowler, conceding 36 runs in his allotted seven overs.
Stars were pegged back early in their reply after openers Temiko Wilson and Swayne Campbell were removed cheaply and a middle-order collapse, which included five wickets tumble inside of three overs, certainly did not help their cause.
First-change seam bowler Rudell Pitcher was the catalyst behind the slide as he ran through the order with ease on the way to match-winning figures of five for 34.
He put the ball in all the right areas and exploited the lateral movement on offer with devastating effect.
Pitcher opened his account by having Young caught in the covers and struck again four overs later after taking a return catch to dismiss Kanaz Tuzo.
Justin Robinson hung around for a while before Pitcher found the edge to have the Stars captain caught at slip.
The all-rounder then removed Seth Campbell, who got squared up to a gorgeous delivery that jagged back off the seam and crashed into the stumps, and completed an impressive five-wicket haul by bowling tail-ender Akeem Talbot.
“Rudell once again proved he is a big-day player for us,” Pitcher said. “He’s struggled all season but today he got five wickets for us. The guys stepped up to the plate and words really can’t express how I feel right now. I am just happy for the boys.”
St David’s had to beat Stars to make certain of the title after losing recent matches against Stars and second-place Bailey’s Bay.
“We had a few hiccups along the way as far as the league,” Pitcher said. “But we achieved our goal and you have to give credit where credit is due.
“We would have loved to have won the league earlier, but it came down to today and we pulled it off and we are just grateful. This is sweet.”
Furbert led the Stars resistance with an unbeaten 49 from 46 balls, Young blasted 32 from 25 balls and Treadwell Gibbons 20 from 19 batting at No 10 after arriving late because of work commitments.
George O’Brien, who led St David’s admirably in Pitcher’s absence, claimed two for 38 with the new ball.
“George has done a great job,” Pitcher said. “The guys have done a great job and have now achieved the goals we set out to achieve at the beginning of the season.
“The [Eastern] Counties and the league was our main focus and anything else is a bonus.”
• Bay thrashed relegated Willow Cuts by 162 runs at Somerset Cricket Club in the Premier Division on Saturday.
Derrick Brangman and opener Coleridge Durham both scored half-centuries as Bailey’s Bay scored 353 against ten-man Cuts.
Bay, who needed to beat Cuts and Western Stars to defeat leaders St David’s in order to win the league, had bonus points in their mind as they piled on the runs against relegated side Cuts after winning the toss.
They lost Azende Furbert in the first over before a second-wicket stand of 65 in eight overs between Durham and Tre Manders proved the launching pad for their biggest total of the season.
A stand of 120 for the third wicket between Durham and captain Rodney Trott, who scored 57, kept the runs flowing for Bay, with Durham hitting 14 fours and a six off 93 balls.
The partnership ended when Durham hit his wicket off Sheroy Fubler’s bowling for 83. Trott departed the next over, 188 for four, stumped by wicketkeeper Ramar Simmons off Dwight Basden. He hit nine fours and a six.
Sinclair Smith (44) and Brangman added 89 for the fifth wicket as Bay moved towards 300. Smith hit seven fours and a six and Brangman 11 fours and four sixes before he was last out in the second-last ball of the innings. His 92 came off 75 balls.
Solomon Burrows, the eighth bowler used by Cuts, claimed three for 31.
Cuts were heading towards a heavy defeat at 140 for eight before a last-wicket stand of 51 carried them to 191 with Qwasi James, batting at No 9, the last out for 101. James hit eight fours and eight sixes.
James dominated the last-wicket stand with Shemar Gomes who scored just two singles off 24 balls. Trott led the Bay bowling with four for 40 while Kyle Hodsoll claimed three for 41.
• St George’s clinched the play-off spot in the First Division when they beat Somerset Bridge by six wickets on Saturday.
Bridge were dismissed for just 38 and St George’s reached their target with the loss of four wickets.
They will now meet Cleveland County this Saturday to determine which team plays in the Premier Division next season.