Johnny Bailey picked up 3 for 55 for the Vilings in their win over the NTCOg in Sunday's LIME Superfast League encounter at Greenland. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Kevin Thompson hit an unbeaten 55 to lead home Earl Tree Shotters against Royal Knights with 8 balls to spare. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

Royal Knights anxiously awaited their fate after the loss to Earl Tree Shotters but still reached the semi finals by the narrowest of net run rate margins. Photo: Charlie E. Jackson/VINO

However, despite Thompson’s heroics, he finished 55 not out, the Shotters did not win quick enough to improve their net run rate and still missed out on a semi final place, even though they, the Police and the Knights all finished the group on 3 points.

Batting first, the Royal Knights were indebted firstly to Ryan Mangal, who scored 59 and then Julian Sinclair who hit a quick fire 60 to boost the total up to 203.

Rudolph Davis picked up 4-20, to remove the Knights middle order.

The Earl Tree Shotters' chase then got off to one of the most amazing starts in recent memory, with Bryan Daley smashing 5 sixes from the first over and 27 runs coming from the second.

Daley fell for 46 (6 sixes, 2 fours) in the 4^th over with the total on 71 and things then slowed down a little with Earl Tree Shotters reaching 100 in the 8^th over, before losing Rohan Blake for 33 to make it 105 for 2.

However, Thompson then began to take control and, in a 63-run partnership with Davis, took his team home with 8 balls to spare.

Despite the loss, the Royal Knights reached the semi final with a net run rate that was just .06 better than that of the Police, who finished third in the group, with the Shotters, very much the crowd’s champions, fourth.

Vikings humble New Testament

In the day’s first game, Anil Mahabir (62) and Vishal Manesar (79) put on an opening stand of 121 for the Vikings as the Vikings posted 260 against the New Testament Church of God.

Johnny Bailey smashed 31, but a flurry of wickets denied the Vikings a much larger total, with Kenroy Cain taking 2 for 40 and Travis Jack 2 for 50.

In reply, the short handed Church were always up against it and once they had been reduced to 122 for 4, the writing was on the wall, however, Delano Johnny was batting from a different script and he smashed his way to a century, including 11 fours and 6 sixes, to keep the crowd and his team’s hopes alive.

Although Johnny did give the Vikings plenty to think about ahead of their semi final clash with Vincy, the Church finished 55 runs short on 205-5, with Bailey finishing with 3-35 and Vaden Walker 2-34.

Next Sunday, June 7, 2015, Vincy will take on Vikings in the first semi final at 11am, whilst at 3pm, the Royal Knights face Grenada.