A TEN-wicket match haul from skipper Nichosie Barker propelled Malteenoes to victory over the Sophia Cricket Club in their Noble House Seafoods second-division two-day cricket clash at the GCC Ground, Bourda, over the weekend.

Scores in the match: Malteenoes 276-3 and 179-9 declared. Sophia 151 all out and 129 all out.

Although Malteenoes were ahead throughout the game, Sophia, through their tailenders, attempted to hold on for a draw on Sunday afternoon.  One by one, they fell, with Glenford Stephen, who finished with 24, left as the only barrier, but a quicker ball from Delon Dalrymple bowled him in the penultimate over of the clash.

Continuing from their overnight score of 104-6, Sophia would have been restricted for a lower total had Dwayne Peters not played a few shots.  Peters hit two sixes and two fours in a top score of 36 unbeaten runs and proved the only resistance against the off spin of Barker.  The Malteenoes all-rounder cleaned up the tail to finish with seven wickets for 46 runs from 15 overs.

Malteenoes started their second innings with Stephon Browne, the first innings century maker, hitting a six off the first ball, but as the top order went after the bowling, they ended up playing rash shots.

Browne scored 20 (1×4, 1×6), Barker 26 (4x4s and 1×6), Clarence Baird 27 (1×4, 1×6) and Jeremiah Scott 24 (2x4s, 2x6s) before the side eventually declared.

Peters led Sophia’s attack with 3-30, while Stephen and Ray Barker grabbed two wickets each.

Sophia never looked as if they could have smashed the 302 runs needed for victory.  Peters did throw his bat, which resulted in three fours and two sixes, but his score of 29 was the most by any of the batmen as Barker and S. Philander led the bowling attack with three wickets each.

The game would have ended before had it not been for the defiance of the lower order, in particular the number nine and ten batsmen, Stephen and Mark Nedd (24 runs 3x4s and 1×6).