Associates claim Evening double
The Associates completed the Evening Cricket League double when they crushed Planning by seven wickets in Thursday night?s knockout final on the artificial pitch at the National Sports Centre.
Having earlier won the Premier Division title for the first time in their 21-year history, the Associates proved too strong for Planning ? despite the presence of former Cup Match players Corey Hill and Jermaine Postlethwaite ? to win the 20-20 KO final for the third year in a row.
Planning never recovered from losing Postlethwaite in the second over to Bruce Currie (three for 14) and slumped to 31 for six after 10 overs before being dismissed in the 17th over for 71.
Other successful bowlers for the Associates were Brook Logan (three for 11), skipper Alistair McNeish (two for six) and Travis Mills (two for 14).
McNeish then took the Associates? total past 50, having added 24 for the first wicket with 60-year-old Gary Edwards, by top-scoring with 28 while Logan, later voted the MVP by league organiser Stephen West, made 23 not out as the Associates romped to 74 for three from 14.5 overs.
Kevin Grant, who took two for nine for Planning, won the best bowler award.
Newcomers Belmont won Wednesday night?s Second Division final by three runs, scoring 104 for eight and then restricting league champions Tuff Dogs to 101 for nine.
League champions Forties will take on North Village in the Commercial Cricket League?s season-ending 40-overs-a-side knockout final at Southampton Oval tomorrow.
Forties have won the knockout 13 times while Village, who have lost to Forties in the last two finals, will be seeking their first success in the competition.