By Vijay Harrinarain
BHCC Public Relations Officer
BROWN HILL, Nevis — A phenomenal lone hand from Fernlix Thomas could not prevent St. Croix from slumping to a seven-wicket defeat against Anguilla on Friday as the Leeward Islands Masters Cricket tournament delivered drama on a Brown Hill surface hosting its third match in two days.
The pitch played superbly despite the heavy workload, offering true bounce and carry that made the contest an even battle between bat and ball. For St. Croix’s Clifford Walwyn, the day held extra meaning. Originally from Brown Hill and now living in the USVI, Walwyn was back in familiar surroundings, taking 1 for 26 with his tidy offspin. But the stage belonged firmly to one man in the St. Croix innings.
After Anguilla inserted the opposition under bright skies, St. Croix huffed and puffed to 142 for 6. Thomas, walking out at No. 4, stood alone throughout the inning. It was as if he was batting against a totally different opposition to his peers. The right-hander bludgeoned an unbeaten 100 from 49 deliveries, reaching three figures on the back of a misfield on the deep mid-wicket boundary. Seven fours and seven sixes decorated his innings with several of those maximums clearing the sizeable boundaries and disappearing out of the ground entirely. Extras were St. Croix’s second top scorer, a statistic that underlined the gulf between Thomas and everyone else. No other batsman reached double figures. Jim Felix grabbed 2 for 22 for Anguilla in a disciplined display.
The match was the second in the tournament for both sides. Anguilla arrived on the back of a loss to St. Kitts the previous day, while St. Croix fell to Antigua in the opening fixture at the ETW Park.
In response, Anguilla’s chase never flickered. Openers Ashley White and Andros Bowens put together a century stand that removed any doubt. White smashed 51 off 34 balls, clearing the ropes twice in the ninth over, and Bowens contributed a polished 49 from 38 deliveries before falling leg before wicket. The required rate stayed comfortably within reach, and Neville Hamilton’s calm 17 not out saw Anguilla to 144 for 3 in 17.1 overs. Keith Elliott was the most economical St. Croix bowler with 1 for 15 from three overs.
Scorecard Summary
St. Croix 142/6 (20 overs)
Fernlix Thomas 100 not out (49 balls, 7 fours, 7 sixes)
Nicholas Bruno 7 not out
Keith Elliott 6
Bowling: Jim Felix 2-22, Rollando Wright 1-15, Neville Hamilton 1-26
Anguilla 144/3 (17.1 overs)
Ashley White 51 (34)
Andros Bowens 49 (38)
Neville Hamilton 17 not out (16)
Bowling: Keith Elliott 1-15, Dave L 1-24, Clifford Walwyn 1-26
The Brown Hill Cricket Club wish to express its sincerest gratitude to the players and supporters of both teams for their presence at the match. Brown Hill will host Semi-Final number two on Sunday, with Nevis taking on St. Kitts. Play is set to begin at 10:00 a.m. Alongside a well-stocked bar, the club will be selling saltfish, egg and johnny cakes for players and patrons alike. All are encouraged to head to Brown Hill for its final match of the tournament and soak in a semi-final that promises to be thoroughly entertaining.