PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Tail-ender Chris Powell hit a boundary off the penultimate ball of the game as Combined Campuses and Colleges Marooners snatched a sensational one-wicket victory over Guyana Jaguars late Monday night to seal their spot in the final four of the NAGICO Super50.
Chasing a modest 172 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, CCC entered the last over needing 11 runs to win but with nine wickets down.
Left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer kept Powell scoreless off the first ball but sent down a wide next ball. The batsman got a single to long-off off the following delivery before Reifer did well to keep Ryan Austin scoreless off the third legitimate ball of the over.
However, Austin relieved the pressure when he edged Reifer for four, to leave CCC with five runs to get from two deliveries.
Reifer sent down another wide but Austin scrambled a single to get Powell on strike and the Jamaican then transformed himself into the hero by striking a boundary to see CCC home with a ball to spare.
He finished unbeaten on 27 from 29 balls while Austin scored four not out.
Paul Palmer top-scored with 32 and Rovman Powell had a game to remember, hitting 31 from 30 balls to follow up his earlier three-wicket haul.
The victory for the Marooners saw them finish second in Group A on eight points, just one behind winners Jaguars.
Windward Islands Volcanoes who had earlier in the day defeated Barbados by 55 runs, missed out on a semi-final spot after finishing on six points.
Very few would have been anticipating the dramatic finish when CCC found themselves reduced to 60 for five in the 21st over. However, two significant partnerships revived Marooners.
Palmer and Kyle Mayers (15) added 35 for the sixth wicket, with Palmer playing intelligently in an innings that lasted 94 balls and contained two fours.
Both fell within the space of two deliveries with no runs added at 95 for seven and Keron Cottoy perished cheaply for five, to leave Marooners on 112 for eight in the 43rd over.
However, the Powell lads, Chris and Rovman who were both on debut, combined in a 48-run, ninth wicket stand off 39 balls, to put their side on the brink of victory.
Rovman was brilliant, striking three sixes, and providing the momentum late in the innings before skying a catch to the wicketkeeper in the penultimate over.
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (2-19) and seamer Paul Wintz (2-26) picked up two wickets apiece.
Rovman Powell had earlier hurt Jaguars with a spell of three for 20 from ten overs, while seamer Mayers (2-27) and leg-spinner Cottoy (2-45) supported well.
Guyana, however, batted slowly to finish on 171 for nine off their 50 overs, with Royston Crandon top-scoring with 39 and veteran West Indies left-hander Shiv Chanderpaul getting 33.
Veerasammy Permaul finished off the innings with a breezy 15-ball unbeaten 29 which included three sixes while opener Rajindra Chandrika got 26.
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Two Powells star as Marooners book semi-final spot
