The first match on day 9 is the 5th place play-off between Fort Charlotte, the team that finished at the bottom of the point table after the league phase, and Dark View Explorers, who lost out on the opportunity to reach the semis based on the lower net run rate. Lindon James and Kevin Cottoy have one more chance this season to lead their teams out. These players have risen to the opportunity to play to a worldwide audience daily, and the Fort Charlotte Strikers and the Dark View Explorers will strive to leave the tournament high. Dark View Explorers got off to a bad start, batting at first.
In his first over, Chelston Stowe accounted for two wickets. The Explorers are in danger of being all out before they complete the ten overs. Javid Williams determines that he wants to put his team up to a much better number than is currently being expected. To complete the demolition work, Stowe returns to bowl his second over.
Javid Williams leads Dark View Explorers a bit of a resurgence. He goes into double digits, with the business being supported by Sealion Williams as the Explorers try to stop the wicket flood. In the last over, Sealron Williams is losing his wicket. He departs for 11, having given Javid Williams decent company in the last few overs.
Javid Williams the highest scorer in that innings. With the Strikers top order struggling to shoot again, the chase is on track. Chelston Stowe comes in as the needed run rate climbs and plays out a maiden over. Cottoy then wants to push on and steps out to hit a four to finish the seventh over.
Chelston Stowe plays a T10 innings that will be hard to find in the 10-over game’s history and future. Cottoy, the skipper, is still out there, and the Strikers still need 27 to win, now from 14 shots. For the Strikers, the wickets keep dropping. Cottoy is still out there on 8, but nobody else will hang around for a long time, turning what was meant to be an easy chase into an exciting finish.
O Jay Mathews took two wickets in two balls to start the 9th over. No 9 Sylvan Spencer ‘s effect is immediate. Two six consecutive shots send the Strikers off to the last over to require 12. Cottoy not out on 8.
Cottoy is dismissed from the 10th over the first ball. But instead, Sylvan Spencer strikes back and hits another six. Spencer is going on to 22 from 5 balls. Spencer gets trapped with two runs to spare.
Sylvan Spencer departs from 7 balls after a 22-run knock. Fredericks makes some touch out of the last shot, batsmen scamper as their lives depended on it, and the Fort Charlotte Strikers take the last ball by one wicket. The Fort Charlotte Strikers won the last ball by one wicket, what a finish to suit for 5th spot!
