By Vijay Harrinarain
Hardtimes, Nevis
The final round of the Trevier Smithen in collaboration with A-1 Farms Nevis 7-A-Side Hit and Run tape ball cricket got underway at the Hardtimes Playoff at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2026. True to the tournament’s standard, patrons were treated to four exciting encounters, with teams vying to either secure qualification to the semifinals or solidify their standings in the table. With much to play for, the afternoon delivered high-octane, edge-of-the-seat competitive cricket.
Match 1: Villa United vs. 6J’s Car Rental River Path Aristocrats
Villa Unite to Tame Aristocrats
The first match of Round 5 saw the unbeaten, in-form Villa United take on the Aristocrats, who were riding high after their first victory in the previous game. The Aristocrats won the toss and elected to bowl first on a placid surface, a puzzling choice considering they started the game a player short. Villa United were put on the back foot early, losing the in-form Rakeesh Subramani to Rajesh Ayanh for 0 off the first ball of the second over, but that would be the only taste of success the Aristocrats would have until the final over. Villa talisman Chris Latchman teamed up with Alvin Hardyal in a partnership worth 101 runs. Latchman scored 28, but he played a secondary role to what was a sublime innings of 78 by Hardyal that stole the show and the coveted Man of the Match title. Hardyal was particularly brutal against Curtis Dore in the jackpot over, securing 34 runs as the Villa men posted a competitive 139-3 in their 7 overs. Captain Kiah Wilkes was the only other successful bowler for the Aristocrats, claiming the wicket of Latchman in the final over, which also saw Hardyal run out off the last delivery of the innings.
In response, the Aristocrats got off to a terrible start, losing the in-form Ayanh for 0 in the first over, bowled by Latchman. That set the tone for what became a struggle for the Aristocrats, who limped to 59-5 in 6.4 overs. The Villa United bowling proved extremely miserly and effective. Kenny Persaud snared 1 wicket, but the effort revolved around the wily veteran Subramani, who ended with figures of 3-24 in 1.4 overs, including 2 wickets in the jackpot over, sealing the fate of the Aristocrats devastatingly. Curtis Dore was the only Aristocrats batsman to reach double figures, finishing on 14 not out.
Official Result: Villa United beat 6J’s Car Rental River Path Aristocrats by 80 runs.
Match 2: Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls vs. Norhtek Networking Limited Rawlins Volcanoes
Volcanoes Explode to Scald Bulls
As was the case last week, Match 2 featured a much-anticipated local derby between the Bulls, who were looking to secure their berth in the semifinals, and the Volcanoes, who were searching for their first victory of the tournament. Captain Jhaidel Allen won the toss for the Volcanoes and elected to bowl first. The entire game was a seesaw battle between both sides. Rawlins restricted the Bulls to 33-1 in 4 overs courtesy of a magnificent opening spell by Rondre Daniel of 2 overs for 6 runs. He was supported by Tariq Edwards, who snared 1-27 in his 2 overs. Captain Weslie Huggins and Davis Webbe then wrestled back the initiative, with Huggins leading the Bulls’ batting with 29 while Webbe’s innings of 14 provided impetus in the latter stages. The Bulls ended their 7 overs on 83-3. Edwards, Jevon Manners and Allen each collected a wicket, with Allen’s coming in the jackpot over.
Rawlins got off to a terrible start, losing Daniel via run-out in the first over with the score on 10. That brought Manners to the crease and, together with captain and Man of the Match Allen, the pair put on a 51-run partnership before Manners was dismissed in the jackpot over by Huggins for 27. The seesaw battle came down to the final over with the Volcanoes needing 7 runs for victory, a target sealed in emphatic fashion by Edwards, who struck a huge six over long on to see his side home. The Volcanoes finished on 88-2 in 6.3 overs.
Official Result: Norhtek Networking Limited Rawlins Volcanoes beat Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls by 4 wickets.
Match 3: Duncan’s Heavy Equipment Rentals Chicken Stone Mustangs vs. Clive Evelyn Construction Hanley’s Road Mad Dawgs
Mad Dawgs Leash Mustangs
Match 3 was a game of high stakes for both teams. The Mustangs needed a handsome victory for any outside chance of semifinals qualification, while the Mad Dawgs needed to win and hope the Thunderbolts would lose to keep their own qualification hopes alive. The Mustangs won a crucial toss and elected to field first. It proved a good decision, as they snared the crucial wicket of Mad Dawgs captain Shurwandy Merchant for 4 in the first over. The Mustangs kept up the pressure, restricting the Mad Dawgs to 66 by the end of the 5th over. Enter Teshron Maynard. With the support of young Jaedon Browne, the pair plundered 30 runs off the jackpot over bowled by Arjune Baliram before taking 20 off the final over bowled by Adrian Leitch, lifting their team to a competitive 116-3 in 7 overs. Man of the Match Maynard finished with 44 not out, while Browne finished on 13 not out. For the Mustangs, Aaron Balkrisson finished with 2-14 in 2 overs, while Nicholas Herro finished with 1-13 in his solitary over.
The Mustangs got off to a flyer, thanks in large part to captain Sachin Seenarine, who hit 3 consecutive sixes in the first over. He was dismissed in the following over by his counterpart Merchant for 18. The Mustangs kept fighting throughout their innings, aided partly by some ill-disciplined Mad Dawgs bowling and gritty contributions from Vishal Kumar, Aaron Balkrisson and Nicholas Herro. Balkrisson made 11 before being bowled by Gastello Manners in the jackpot over. With 28 needed from the final 12 deliveries, captain Merchant returned to bowl a superlative penultimate over, conceding just 3 runs and, more crucially, snaring the wicket of Herro for 12 courtesy of a superb diving catch by Clive Maynard on the long off boundary. Vishal Kumar had too much to do in the final over and was dismissed for 35, effectively ending the chase for the Mustangs, whose innings closed on 104-5 in 7 overs.
Official Result: Clive Evelyn Construction Hanley’s Road Mad Dawgs beat Duncan’s Heavy Equipment Rentals Chicken stone Mustangs by 12 runs.
Match 4: Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts vs. Precision Steel Works Old Manor Bamboos
Shock and Awe: Thunderbolts Electrocute Splintered Bamboos
The final match of the day saw the Thunderbolts, needing a win to secure their semifinals berth in the wake of the Mad Dawgs’ result, face off against the Bamboos, who, despite 2 defeats, still needed a big win to remain in contention. The crucial toss was won by Thunderbolts captain Dio Hendrickson, who elected to bat first. Bamboos opening bowler, Kenron Freeman, bowled with great pace and made an early impression, removing the in-form Sheldon Browne in the first over for just 2. That brought Captain Hendrickson to the crease. He and Ulano Smithen, aided by some ill-disciplined bowling from the Bamboos, carried the score to 72-1 in the 4th over. The Thunderbolts looked set for a big total. However, a herculean bowling effort from the Bamboos, led by captain Tyger Browne and Gavin Clarke Jr., saw the Bamboos claw their way back into the game. Browne ended with figures of 1-21 in 2 overs, which included a 14-run jackpot over, while Clarke Jr., in his solitary over, conceded just 2 runs and claimed the key wicket of Smithen (12), who was dismissed via a brilliant diving catch behind the wicket by captain Browne. The Bamboos conceded just 24 runs in the final 3 overs, meaning the Thunderbolts closed their innings on 96-3. A Man of the Match batting performance from captain Hendrickson, who contributed 28, proved crucial as only he and Smithen reached double figures in the innings.
The Thunderbolts matched fire with fire as Smithen worked up a head of steam and delivered some thunderbolts, dismissing the in-form Rohan Laborde in the first over for just 2. That set the tone as the Thunderbolts’ disciplined bowling bogged down the Bamboos throughout. Captain Tyger Browne strove valiantly to pull his team from the brink, scoring 19 before being bowled by Nyanjay Liburd in the 4th over, the only Bamboos batsman to reach double figures. With 40 needed from 3 overs, the Bamboos spectacularly capitulated in the jackpot over, suffering two needless run-outs of Kenron Freeman and Shedano Liburd. The chaos resulted in 8 penalty runs being deducted from their total, highlighting the mire the Bamboos found themselves in throughout the chase. The Bamboos closed their innings on 70-4 in 7 overs, bowing out of the tournament.
Official Result: Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts beat Precision Steel Works Old Manor Bamboos by 26 runs.
The action will now climax on Monday, 25th May, Whit Monday, with the semi-finals and grand finals.
END