da jogodeouro： You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting
da roleta： Philip Spooner21-Aug-2001You couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting. You couldn’thave asked for a stiffer challenge, and you couldn’t have asked for amore wonderful response.The National Sports Council Under-13 cricketers yesterday turned it onin fantastic fashion, as allrounders Reydon Toppin and Kevin Callendercombined to beat the Sussex County Under-15 team.Playing at the scenic roadside ground of the 230-year-old HenfieldCricket Club on a sun-bathed afternoon, the pair lifted the Bajansfrom the depth of despair to a thrilling victory which warmed thehearts of the fair-sized crowd.Toppin, a well-organised right-hander coming in at No. 7, playedpositively on both sides of the wicket for a topscore of 59 with fivefours and two massive sixes over square-leg. The moment of the daycame when the shy right-hander eased pacer Max Thornley through thecovers to bring up the first half-century of the tour. There was alouder cheer than could be heard when England won the Leeds Testmatch.Callender, whose forthright hitting from the word go gained him a runa-ball 41 not out, added 101 for the ninth-wicket with Toppin.Sussex coach Chris Pickett described as breathtaking the pair’s 11fours and two sixes in the partnership."It was true Caribbean-style cricket," Pickett said. "My lads haveto thank you for a wonderful exhibition. Earlier, the coach fromSurrey called me to ask what are you guys like. Now I can tell himhe’d better watch out."After the batting blitz, Callender, with brisk left-arm medium-paceand Toppin, gaining generous bounce with his seamers, accounted forfour Sussex batsmen as the hosts could only muster 57 off 20 overs.Toppin, a Combermerian, took three for four in four overs, whileCallender, from Foundation School, had two for seven. Carleon Bromeand Kevin McClean, shared three wickets, while three fell by the runout route including, you guessed it a brilliant one-handed pick-up anddirect hit by Toppin from point.What made the win even more special for the Barbadians was the factthat the Sussex players were older and the manner in which the Bajansfought back.National Sports Coucil chairman Duncan Carter and former West Indiesfast bowlers Joel Garner and Milton Small presented the awards afterthe game.The Sussex Award went to Joe Gatting, the nephew of former Englandskipper Mike Gatting, who had four catches behind the wicket.The win was the fourth on the trot for the Bajans, who remain healthyand in good spirits as they travel to Kent today where they willtackle the county’s under-13s at Canterbury.
