White Hill Field (Grassroots Academy won toss): Grassroots Academy beat Bermuda Select XI by six wickets

Antigua’s Grassroots Academy made a winning start to the Bermuda Premier League, with opening batsman Michael Haynes-Dover’s unbeaten 57 guiding them to an easy win over the Bermuda Select XI.

Haynes-Dover, 27, struck three fours and five sixes in his 37-ball innings, which took the Antigua academy to 75 for four in 13.3 overs. This was after their bowling attack had done an excellent job of wiping out the Select XI for just 74 in 14.3 overs.

“We definitely wanted to make a statement and there was a lot happening coming to this tour,’’ said Haynes-Dover, who was voted the player of the match.

“The guys were anxious to get playing and we put our best foot forward to take the game by the scruff of the neck. As a team we stood there and we came out victorious.

“They could have scored 100 but the brilliance of our bowlers pegged them back and we got the best of them.

“We’ll definitely try to push the team to the max, bat right through all the games and try to win them all.”

Clay Smith, the coach of the Select XI, is seeking a quick turnaround when his side faces the national team on Thursday.

“We did not apply ourselves to the best of our ability,’’ Smith said.

“The wicket was a bit up and down and I thought we could have changed pace a little bit, look to score about 130 and give us a fighting chance.

“We just didn't bat well as a unit and there are a lot of lessons to take from today. Hopefully we make some changes and we have a go at the national team.

“We’re looking at changes in both personnel and application. We wanted to go hard in the power-play today but the wicket wasn't conducive to playing a lot of shots and we have to come out, identify that and make the difference.

“Defending such a low score, we just wanted to show some character, go out there and fight to see how many wickets we can possibly pick.

“They are a good team and to bowl out a team for 70 was always going to be difficult but we wanted to make sure we gave a good account of ourselves.

“When you score 74 against an international team you’re know your back is against the wall. I thought we showed some character from the bowling aspect but we just didn't bat well. It’s simple as that.”

The Select XI’s innings was characterised by a pedestrian approach from most of the batsmen after the team was asked to take first strike. Their opening pair of Oronde Bascome and Argentinian Pedro Baron showed some promise, only for the partnership to be broken after two overs. Allan Douglas Jr top scored with a rapid 28 before he was castled by pace bowler Miandre James.

It was James who did most of the damage to finish with three wickets, while Jedidiah Martin and skipper Kadeem Henry had two apiece.

Macquille Walker gave the select side some hope when he picked up two early wickets but he was unable to make further inroads from there, with the rest of the bowlers having no answers for Haynes-Dover.

The right-handed batter timed his shots beautifully with some lusty blows sent in all directions. Just to show the difference he made, the next-highest score for the Antigua academy was five runs.

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