Merry Boys into UWI T20 final

Merry Boys into UWI T20 final
By Roger Seepersad This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Story Created: Jan 23, 2014 at 8:52 PM ECT

Runners-up in the inaugural UWI National Twenty20 tournament in 2012, Merry Boys will get another shot at the title this year after they secured their place in tomorrow’s final with a 12-run win over Queen’s Park Cricket Club in their semifinal clash at UWI SPEC, St Augustine, on Wednesday night.

Akeem Alvarez slammed an unbeaten 49 off 29 balls while teenager Amir Jangoo supported with 42 off 36 and Lendl Simmons added 32 off 23 to lead Merry Boys to 150 for eight after they won the toss and elected to bat first. Pacers Rayad Emrit (three for 22) and Atiba Allert (three for 35) then snatched three wickets each as the Parkites reached 138 for nine when the overs ran out.
Jangoo, who was the West Indies Cricket Board Under-17 tournament MVP (Most Valuable Player) last year, put on 76 runs for the second wicket with West Indies batsman Simmons as they laid the platform for their team after losing opening batsman Mario Belcon, bowled by Kevon Cooper off the fifth ball of the match with the score on four.

Simmons hit three sixes and two fours before pacer Tion Webster sent him and Aaron Alfred back to the pavilion off consecutive balls in the tenth over.
Webster’s next over accounted for Jangoo, and the Merry Boys innings was in danger of collapsing, but Man of the Match Alvarez stepped in with five sixes and a four in his 29-ball knock to get them to a competitive score.
The Parkites had a similar slide, losing Adrian Barath (16), Darren Bravo (13), Jonathan Augustus (zero) and Daron Cruickshank (zero) in the space of three overs. From 55 for one after eight overs, they were reduced to 57 for five in the 11th, and despite Petrock Nicholas’ late 20-ball 39, the lower order could not pull it off.
In the tournament final, Merry Boys will face the winners of last night’s semifinal between Munroe Road and Clarke Road United. A $25,000 prize will be at stake.

UWI T20 Summarised Scores
Merry Boys 150-8 (20 overs) (Akeem Alvarez 49 n.o., Amir Jangoo 42, Lendl Simmons 32; Tion Webster 3/29, Kevon Cooper 2/22) vs QPCC 138-9 (20 overs) (Petrock Nicholas 39, Justin Guillen 25; Rayad Emrit 3/22, Atiba Allert 3/35)
--Merry Boys won by 12 runs