Englishmen top locals in cricket
Good evening I’m James Adderley brining to you this week’s edition of Sports Monday. And folks on Saturday Lord’s Bank in Belize Rural was transformed into the perfect replica of an English countryside, complete with picturesque scenery, excited fans, gentlemen dressed in white and a high level of cricket play.
And we would be diplomatically incorrect if we didn’t feature M.C.C. tour manager Dr. Peter Brown exchanging niceties with the man representing the Belizean public at this official occasion, Hon. Ralph Fonseca.
Of course, if you’re wondering about the flags, well there’s the Union Jack, the Sub Umbra Floreo and of course the Marylebone Cricket Club official flag.
But it’s forty-four years since M.C.C. has been tested by Belizean opposition and here’s the first offering from all star Bowler Kevin Flowers to world-class batter, Richard “Great” Orex and we’re underway.
After a feeling our process that seems to last almost forever, it quickly becomes apparent that the great Orex is indeed a batsman of great skill as he strikes for the first four of the match here.
So Flowers decides to turn up the heat, but the Englishman turns up the power for six and we’re fortunate that ball wasn’t loss.
Of course Orex has both skill and power as he slices for four through the hole. And after forty-five minutes, Richard goes to the sunblock to protect his worldwide appeal.
But he was right back to his old tricks, smashing for a wicked six right after. In the meantime, Flowers, who would go three wickets for forty-eight runs, gets his second of the match.
Nevertheless, who is going to chase Orex off the pitch as he pushes the ball just out of reach of the outfielders. Still, Mr. Jex, you’d better move your Jeep Cherokee, the English are smashing balls everywhere.
Fortunately folks, even good things must come to an end and Flowers finally reaches his nemesis, Richard Orex with this high bounce, but not before the Englishman had batted for an hour and a half, demoralised the Belizean pitching staff, and batted a game high one hundred and two runs. Of course England went on to total two hundred and thirty-one runs in their turn at bat.
On offence, the Belize National Team got fifty-five runs from Dr. Beder Swami, but all he could muster was one hundred and twelve runs after Michael Dewhurst went four wickets for twenty-seven.
Meanwhile, game two brought a better result for team Belize in the confrontation at capital city Belmopan, but they nevertheless fell short in a hundred and seventy-four to one hundred and twenty final score. Still, we thank the Marylebone Cricket Club for giving Belizean cricket a much-needed boost. And hey guys, let’s do it again sometime.
Changing gears folks, we take you to the Yabra green on Caesar Ridge Road in Belize City on Sunday for the finish to the eighty-mile FM 2000 Cycle Classic, which left San Ignacio at nine a.m. en-route to Belize City through the Ring Road at Belmopan.
The bugle and the bell signals to the crowd out at Yabra that the big finish is near. And who is that man in the lead? Well, it’s Miguel Perez, a Guatemalan riding for Santino, riding off with two thousand, five hundred and a bull. He forces the Mexican, David Calam, also riding for Santino into second, while Enrique Rodriguez, a Guatemalan riding for team Cayo pulls up third.
Ernest Meighan becomes the first Belizean to cross the finish line after wining the sprint for fourth place, beating out Guatemalan Neri Velasquez. Cross Country champ American Christ Foster, takes sixth place in uncontested fashion.
Marlon Castillo, a up and coming young man, pulls up into seventh place, while Charlie Lewis edged Hubert Johnson for the eighth place finish.
Finally in football news, Jacintoville completed the sweep of Yabra United in the three game series for the B.P.F.L. B League championship with a 6-2 route at the Toledo Union field yesterday. We say congrats to Jacintoville of Punta Gorda. Hopefully, you will be stepping up to the big time.
That’s it for now; we thank our cameramen for their great work over the weekend. Jah over all! I’m James Adderley
