Ian Sampson hit 32 not out and picked up 2 wickets to help ESHS to a 48 run win against St Georges in a 20/20 exhibition match. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Rashad Joseph smacked 22 for St. Georges including 2 sixes and 1 four. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Both teams played the game in great spirit and were true Ambassadors for their respective schools- ESHS and St Georges High School. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Both teams played the game in great spirit and were true Ambassadors for their respective schools- ESHS and St Georges High School. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The game was staged as part of the WICB/Digicel Grassroots Cricket Programme in conjunction with the BVI Cricket Association (BVICA) and took place on the grounds of the H.Lavity Stoutt Community College, with Andrea Cox, the captain of St. Georges, winning the toss and deciding to bowl first.

It was the first game for many of the St. Georges team, but they soon made inroads into the ESHS batting line up with Dillon Penn claiming the wicket of Kedesh Talle in just his second over.

With the score on 19, Talle, who had already hit a four and a six in the first over on his way to 11 top edged another attempted pull shot and Rashad Joseph took a superb running catch behind square.

Sampson opted for an anchor role as he looked to lead from the front and his innings took on even more importance when a horrible mix up with Chetram Singh saw the latter well short of his ground having been sent back by Sampson.

To his credit, the skipper knuckled down to ensure his side reached a competitive total against some tight bowling.

Jared Younis had joined his captian at the wicket and had cruised his way to 14, taking the total to 50 before he was deceived by one from Cox which spun back in to hit leg stump.

Tavoy Morgan then joined Sampson in a 50 run partnership for the 4th wicket and as the pair first rebuilt and then went on the attack. Sampson finally freeing his arms to take 17 from Makaio Garrin’s only over, which also counted for the wicket of Morgan for 10 and was the 20th.

The final total of 123 bolstered by the late pyrotechnics of Sampson who finished 32 not out, having hit 2 sixes and 3 fours.

Andre Kartik completed his 4 over spell conceding just 14 runs, Penn took 1 -20, Cox 1-16, Tyra Parker, who would later take a painful blow to her thumb whilst batting bowled a tidy spell of effective medium pace and finished by conceding just 10 runs from 2 overs. Paul Oliver also bowled pretty well for his first time ending with just 22 runs coming from his four overs as he helped strangle the ESHS innings during the middle overs.

In reply Talle put the dampners on the St. George’s reply, taking 3 wickets in his first over to reduce the visitors to 10 for 3. Joseph Wells, Paul Oliver and Dillon Penn all finding themselves back in the pavilion without scoring as Talle bowled fast and straight.

Rashad Joseph stood unmoved and imperious at the other end and set about helping himself to a couple of 6’s as he tried to get his team back into the game, but his efforts were undone at the other end by the bowling of Kemoy Forteau, Chetwin Bagot and Jared Younis, all of whom produced miserly spells.

Younis in fact removed Joseph for 22 to ensure victory for ESHS in this first exhibition match of which many more are planned by the BVICA.

Andrea Cox, Tyra Parker, despite her bruised thumb, Kemoy Winter and Jonte-Joy Purcell all played little cameo’s at the end and will have learnt a lot from the experience as the innings closed on 75-9.

Make no mistake though, the boys from ESHS were made to work for their win and will need to put in more practice if they are to stay ahead of their counterparts in matches to come.

Talle finished with 3 for 7 and Sampson 2 for 10, whilst Forteau and Younis both picked up one wicket each.