Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Evergreen Janeiro Tucker guides Willow Cuts to Western Counties final

First Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Last
Showing the youngsters the way: Janeiro Tucker led Willow Cuts with 62 in a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Dominic Sabir (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)

White Hill Field (Willow Cuts won toss): Willow Cuts beat Warwick by six wickets

Guest player Janeiro Tucker showed the youngsters the way with two wickets in a mean ten-over spell and a high score of 62 as Willow Cuts overpowered Warwick in the third round of the Western Counties Cup on Saturday.

Appearing for Cuts for the first time in the competition, having previously played for Southampton Rangers — their opponents in the August 24 final — the 49-year-old figured prominently in a 111-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dominic Sabir, a fellow guest player and club team-mate at Somerset.

The partnership was crucial in guiding Cuts to 187 for four in 44 overs, after they had restricted Warwick to 185 for eight.

Sabir, who battled against cramp late in his innings, was unbeaten on 56 when he and Deunte Darrell finished things off with much to spare.

Tucker, who was bowled by Delray Rawlins when his side needed 17 to win, was named the man of the match.

Janeiro Tucker receives his man-of-the-match award from Western Counties president Teresa Burrows (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)

“I just wanted to make sure that I got us in a position where we couldn't lose,” Tucker told The Royal Gazette. “Once I stayed till the end, then we had a better chance of winning the game.

“Dominic Sabir and I did what they asked us to do for the team. I’m just going to enjoy the moment and when Rangers come, if they want me to play again, I’m happy to do that and have some more fun.”

With Sabir, a player 28 years his junior, buckling under the heat, the Cup Match legend gave out the “secret” to his longevity.

“I keep myself in shape, I go to the gym on a daily basis,’’ he said. “I don’t train cricket but I train fitness, which is more important.

Janeiro Tucker, left, watches as spinner Delray Rawlins gets into his work (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)

“I’m not going to lose cricket but you lose fitness if you don’t look after yourself, and that’s what gets me over the line when I play cricket.”

For Sabir, a former Warwick player, the critical moment was when Cuts captain Ras Solomon Burrows won the toss on a steaming hot day and asked the holders to bat on a track with a helpful covering of grass.

“I haven’t seen a pitch like that at White Hill,” Sabir said. “We sent them in to bat and got what we needed from our bowlers, especially at the beginning, so that put a lot of pressure on their middle to late-order batsmen.

Dominic Sabir finished unbeaten on 56 (Photograph by Ras Mykkal)

“We had a crazy start with Ras hitting a six off the first ball of the innings. That was exciting; it looked that we were going in the right direction, but a we had a few mishaps with the two run-outs.

“All-round it was a comfortable win; Janeiro Tucker and myself were able to roll it back in for us.

“Janeiro is my role model; to bat with him was great. He made it a lot easier. He was able to coach me along the way even after I cramped. He showed me what I needed to do.

“The nice thing about playing cricket in Bermuda is that you pretty much know all the players, so it’s always a good vibe regardless of who you play for.”

Tre Manders led Warwick’s batters with 55 (Photograph by Nicki Horan)

Burrows stated that they went into the match optimistic about their chances of winning.

“Looking at our team, we were very confident that we were going to defeat Warwick easily,’’ the Cuts captain said.

“The partnership between Janeiro Tucker and Dominic Sabir, those two really consolidated. Where we were falling short, they picked up and carried us through.

“We’re going to the final against Southampton Rangers and we will win it, I’m 100 per cent sure about that.”

Zeri Tomlinson, left, is congratulated by Janeiro Tucker after reaching his half-century (Photograph by Nicki Horan)

Tre Manders, who scored 55 at No 4 for Warwick whose batting was otherwise laboured, felt that they should have removed Tucker before he settled in.

“I knew when Janeiro comes in, you've got to get him early,” the Bermuda batter said.

“Once he hangs around, he can take the game away from any team. At his age, he’s still playing amazing cricket; his name itself brings big things to any team.

“We were up against an experienced side with Janeiro Tucker and Herbie Bascome, who have a played a lot of years of cricket, so it wasn't going to be easy for us.”

Scorecard

Warwick

L Horan b Fubler 22

M Jones c Tucker b Bascome 3

Z Tomlinson b Tucker 50

T Manders c Fubler b Sabir 55

D Rawlins c C Basden b Sabir 5

*S Dill lbw b Tucker 0

C Burgess lbw b Bascome 16

S Boyles-Simons run out 10

†A Lee not out 4

Extras (lb 6, w 14) 20

Total (8 wkts; 50 overs) 185

J Stovel and O DeShields did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-50, 3-100, 4-109, 5-110, 6-133, 7-179, 8-185.

Bowling: Bashir 5-1-9-0; Bascome 9-2-41-2; Darrell 6-1-22-0; Fubler 10-2-28-1; Tucker 10-2-20-2; Sabir 10-0-59-2.

Willow Cuts

*R Solomon Burrows run out 6

D Basden run out 13

A Darrell b Rawlins 25

D Sabir not out 56

J Tucker b Rawlins 62

D Darrell not out 11

Extras (b 1, lb 2, w 10, nb 1) 14

Total (4 wkts; 44 overs) 187

†S Bean, K Fubler, C Basden, K Bashir and H Bascome did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-48, 3-58, 4-169.

Bowling: Horan 10-0-36-0; Jones 9-1-25-0; Stovel 1-0-7-0; Boyles-Simons 7-0-32-0; Rawlins 10-2-32-2; Dill 4-0-28-0; Tomlinson 3-0-24-0.

Umpires: D Smith and J McKirdy.

Third umpire: L Williams.

You must be Registered or to post comment or to vote.

Published August 12, 2024 at 7:58 am (Updated August 12, 2024 at 8:18 am)

Evergreen Janeiro Tucker guides Willow Cuts to Western Counties final

What you
Need to
Know
1. For a smooth experience with our commenting system we recommend that you use Internet Explorer 10 or higher, Firefox or Chrome Browsers. Additionally please clear both your browser's cache and cookies - How do I clear my cache and cookies?
2. Please respect the use of this community forum and its users.
3. Any poster that insults, threatens or verbally abuses another member, uses defamatory language, or deliberately disrupts discussions will be banned.
4. Users who violate the Terms of Service or any commenting rules will be banned.
5. Please stay on topic. "Trolling" to incite emotional responses and disrupt conversations will be deleted.
6. To understand further what is and isn't allowed and the actions we may take, please read our Terms of Service
7. To report breaches of the Terms of Service use the flag icon