Review: 2018 Year In Cricket In Bermuda - Bernews

January

Stovell and Fray named as Bermuda captains

Dion Stovell and Terryn Fray are announced as captains of Bermuda’s Twenty 20 and 50-over squads, respectively, for the ICC Americas World T20 subregional qualifier in Argentina.

Rawlins smashes career best score in Australia

Delray Rawlins hits a career-best innings and maiden century in the New South Wales Premier Second Grade, scoring 152 runs.

Richardson is appointed BCB chairman of selectors

Allen Richardson is announced as Bermuda Cricket Board’s chairman of team selectors.

February

Bremar batting display takes Bermuda title triumph

Steven Bremar steers Bermuda to a dramatic four-wicket triumph over Cayman Islands to win group B of the ICC World Twenty20 Sub Regional Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina, scoring 26-not out from 14 balls.

Bermuda well beaten by Cayman

Bermuda suffers heavy defeat in their second ICC World T20 Qualifier against Cayman Islands, going down by 63 runs in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Leverock man-handles Argentina

Bermuda begins its ICC World Twenty20 Sub Regional Qualifiers with a 124-run victory over Argentina at the Belgrano AC Ground in Buenos Aires.

Flatts star Brandon Woolridge dies

Former Flatts Victoria Cricket Club all-rounder Brandon Woolridge dies at age 62.

Smith and Waldron achieve coaching certification

National coach Clay Smith and Academy coach Calvin Waldron complete the CWI/ECB Level 3 Cricket Coaching Course.

March

Rawlins and MCC roar to victory

Delray Rawlins helps Marylebone Cricket Club to victory over County Championship First Division champions Essex in the four-day Champion County Match at Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Rawlins debuts for South in Barbados

Delray Rawlins’s makes his debut in the North-South Series in Barbados, a crushing 96-run defeat against the North side.

Bremar bowling exploits propel Bermuda to title

Steven Bremar produces the innings of his career for Bermuda, guiding the island to a dramatic four-wicket triumph over Cayman Islands to win group B of the ICC World Twenty20 Sub Regional Qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

April

Bermuda humiliated by Uganda, bowled out for 60

Bermuda is left facing relegation after losing to Uganda by 189 runs.

Fray and Trott to share Bay captaincy

Terryn Fray is named captain of Bailey’s Bay Open League team, with Rodney Trott retaining leadership of the Limited Overs [50-overs] squad.

Ellsworth Christopher [1940-2018]

Long-serving teacher, sportsman and administrator Ellsworth Christopher – a one-time president of Devonshire Recreation Club – dies at the age of 78.

Wendell Smith named assistant coach at St George’s

Wendell Smith returns to St George’s as an assistant to head coach Ryan Steede.

Pitcher resigns as St David’s captain

OJ Pitcher steps down as captain of league champions St David’s, presumably to focus more on his personal health after being ill-stricken.

Outerbridge back in favour

Stephen Outerbridge returns to the Bermuda national team after a five years hiatus.

Stovell and Jones traansfer back to Southampton

Dion Stovell and Malachi Jones make transfer moves Southampton Rangers from St David’s and Bailey’s Bay respectivelly.

May

Scotland takes place in Surrey Under-15s

Marcus Scotland is selected for the Surrey Cricket Foundation squad to play in the England and Wales Cricket Board Royal London U15 County Cup.

Jones packs his kit and goes home

Malachi Jones, after being given out caught against St David’s, packs up his gear and leaves the grounds, forcing his team to field a man short and be beaten by two wickets.

Tuff Dogs make County Cup history

Tuff Dogs managed an historic victory when they became the first Evening League team to win a match in the Central Counties Cup competition, defeating then holders Western Stars by three wickets in the first round.

Stovell named Rangers’ captain

Dion Stovell is returned as captain of Southampton Rangers, replacing Janeiro Tucker.

Rawlins selected to Sussex squad

Delray Rawlins is named in Sussex’s 14-man squad to commence the club’s Royal London One-Day Cup campaign.

Stars bowled out for 18 by St George’s

St George’s dismiss Western Stars for a paltry 18 at Wellington Oval.

Coach Smith refuses to quit on Bermuda

Bermuda head coach Clay Smith comes under intense pressure after Bermuda is relegated to the nether reaches of the ICC.

Dill umpires T20 international match

Local umpire Roger Dill, with Jamaican Patrick Gustard, officiates the opening match of the Global T20 Canada Tournament in King City.

Tuff Dogs and Village make counties history

North Village and Tuff Dogs become first to participate in an all-Evening League Central Counties final.

Tuff Dogs claim maiden Central Counties Championship

Tuff Dogs post a season-high total of 427 at Devonshire Recreation Club against North Village to claim a 347-run victory.

Brangman refusal to walk brings game into disrepute

Derrick Brangman forces match abandonment of Western Stars versus Bailey’s Bay following his refusal to walk when he was given out at St John’s Field.

Cricket umpire George Trott dies

Former Hamilton Parish all-rounder and umpire dies on his 90th birthday.

Leverock joins with Chris Gayle and Co. in Canada

Fast-bowling all-rounder Kamau Leverock lines up alongside and against the world’s best — including Jamaica and West Indies’ star Chris Gayle after being drafted by the Vancouver Knights into the inaugural Global T20 Canada.

July

Leverock hits it big for Clifton

Kamau Leverock is in imperious form for Clifton, scoring a ravishing knock of 125 at opener in an abandoned match against Lullington Park.

Trott helps St George’s defeat Somerset

Captain Charles Trott guides St George’s to a three-wicket win over defending champions Somerset in Colts Cup Match at Somerset, scoring an unbeaten 45.

Stovell shows he’s still king

Post 80-year-old John Stovell, a formermulti-sport star, shares in a match-winning partnership to encourage Somerset Legends to a seven-wicket triumph over St George’s Legends in the inaugural Cup Match Legends T20 match at Somerset Cricket Club.

O’Brien and Trott rule themselves out of Cup Match

St George’s pair George O’Brien and Rodney Trott rle themselves out of contention for Cup Match selection after both refused attendance at training.

Cleveland promoted

Cleveland County clinches automatic promotion to the top flight with a 213-run victory over PHC at Wellington.

Rangers claim another title

Southampton Rangers seize the One 50 Overs Premier Division title with victory over Bailey’s Bay.

Cleveland upset Bay in County Cup

Cleveland County pull off a stunning upset over holders Bailey’s Bay to reclaim the Eastern Counties Cup at Sea Breeze Oval.

Brangman calls time on cricket career

Derrick Brangman quits cricket after a letter from the Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] is sent to the Eastern Counties Cricket Association objecting to his selection for Bailey’s Bay in the Eastern Counties Cup while under BCB suspension.

Southampton advance in Western Counties

Southampton Rangers advances after second round of Western Counties over Warwick Workmen’s Club when the match is called off because of rain at Southampton Oval.

Somerset invite Rankin to present Cup Match trophy despite contrary call from Minister

Somerset Cricket Club invites Governor John Ranking to present the Cup Match trophy despite a controversial call for him not to by a government minister.

Leverock makes Canada debut for Vancouver

Kamau Leverock makes his debut at the inaugural Global T20 Canada Tournament in King City, Toronto for the Vancouver Knights squad, led by former West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

Bailey’s Bay terms Brangman ban an overreaction

Bailey’s Bay’s Stephen Outerbridge and Rodney Trott lead a chorus against the one-year suspension of Derrick Brangman, noting how he was never actually given out by umpire Kent Gibbons for his disputed dismissal.

August

Island Mourns Voice of Summer

C.V. “Jim” Woolridge, one of Bermuda’s leading former political figures, Tourism Minister and revered cricket commentator famous as the “Voice of Summer”, dies at the age of 92.

Stovell Selected Cup Match MVP a month later

Dion Stovell is chosen as the 2018 Cup Match MVP after weeks of deliberation. The Somerset all-rounder had earlier claimed match figures of seven for 49 to aid the west enders past St George’s.

Southampton champs again in Western Counties

Southampton Rangers beats PHC by five wickets to retain the Western Counties Cup.

Rawlins helps Sussex advance

Delray Rawlins encourages Sussex Sharks to the Vitality Blast finals in defeating Durham Jets in the quarter-finals of the English Twenty20 competition.

Super 8 contest announced by BCB

An end-of-season tournament, the Super 8 Festival, is announced as to be played in September.

Jones again refuses umpire decision

Malachi Jones refuses to walk after being dismissed first ball in Southampton Rangers’ defeat by St David’s in the One Twenty20 Premier Division at Southampton Oval. It is the second time for the season Jones has vehemently rejected the call of ‘out’.

Cleveland march to victory

Cleveland County begin the defence of the Eastern Counties Cup with a five-wicket win over Flatts Victoria at Sea Breeze Oval.

Bremar awarded Cup Match Sportsmanship aaward

Steven Bremar is awarded the Bermuda Friendly Societies Association’s 15th annual Cup Match Sportsmanship Award for his deportment during Cup Match.

Safe Hands Award held by Douglas

St. George’s star player Allan Douglas Jr becomes the first player to win the Safe Hands Award for three straight years.

Jekon Edness announces retirement from Cup Match

Somerset’s Jekon Edness, the wicket-keeper and former captain, announces his retirement following victory by Somerset over St. George’s.

Somerset manage historic Cup Match triumph

Somerset beat St George’s by an innings and 34 runs at Somerset Cricket Club over two days. Somerset opening batsmen Terryn Fray and Chris Douglas etch their names into the annals of Cup Match history with a record first-wicket partnership of 153 runs with Douglas scoring 74 and Fray scores 90.

Cann dropped from St. George’s team

Lionel Cann, a long serving member of St. George’s Cup Match team is dropped from the team.

September

Rawlins takes a pair

Delray Rawlins falls for ducks in consecutive innings for Sussex during a three-day Specsavers County Championship Division Two match against Northamptonshire.

Police shut down Bailey’s Bay CC for 24-hours

Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club’s bar is closed temporarily in the wake of a fight involving several men outside the institution, who also threw bottles and resisted police coming upon the scene.

Tuff Dogs sprint to third title double

Tuff Dogs defeated The Associates by 66 runs in the final of the Evening Cricket League’s knock-out final at Shelly Bay Field to complete the league and cup double for the third consecutive season.

Leverock gets cricket job in Australia

Kamau Leverock signs with Walkerville Crciket Club to play the Australian summer season.

Flatts inspired by Leverock

Kamau Leverock smashes 75 off 29 balls to lead Flatts Victoria to a five-wicket win over Warwick Workmen’s Club in the One First Division T20 final at Sea Breeze Oval.

Champion of Champions competition axed

The Champion of Champions competition is cancelled by the Combined Counties Association

Frederick “Freddy” Tucker dies at 95

Frederick “Freddy” Tucker, a West End sportsman who helped to turn a friendly annual cricket match into a force for charity, dies at age 95.

BCB cancel Super 8 tournament

The inaugural Super 8 Festival Weekend is cancelled by BCB due to a lack of interest in the two-day event from the local clubs.

Cann marks 50th appearance by inspiring St David’s to victory

Lionel Cann, on his 50th appearance at the Eastern Counties Cup Competition, tallied 62 runs which helped St David’s reclaim the trophy against Cleveland County at Sea Breeze Oval.

Jones banned

Southampton Rangers all-rounder Malachi Jones is banned for two matches by the Bermuda Cricket Board for refusing to walk when given out in an earlier One Premier Division Twenty20 match against St David’s.

October

Kenny Paul dies

St George’s Cricket Club former Cup Match bowler Kenny Paul dies.

Stovell repeats as cricket’s MVP

Dion Stovell is awarded a second straight One Premier Division Most Valuable Player, while Cleveland County all-rounder Makai Young is voted the First Division MVP.

ICC gives Bermuda another opportunity to compete at World Cup

Bermuda is given a second chance at qualification for the 2023 Cricket World Cup by a new initiative announced by the International Cricket Council [ICC].

Speight resigns from BCB

Neil Speight steps down as CEO of the Bermuda Cricket Board along with vice-president Nyon Steede, who also handed in his resignation.

Clubs offered low-cost loans to aid development

Local sporting clubs are announced to receive low-cost loans from Government to enhance their venue infrastructures.

Smith departs as Bermuda coach

Clay Smith is not resigned and so announces resignation as national cricket coach, despite being already three-months out of contract.

November

Paynter comes in as BCB vice-president

The Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB announces St George’s Cricket Club executive and club player Mishael Paynter to its executive in the place of vice-president. Also, Paul Ross is voted as the second vice-president, Moses Mufandaedza as treasurer, Lorenzo Tucker as the assistant treasurer-secretary, while Kellie Smith, Clay Smith and Mike Stovell are all named as club representatives.

Steede takes over at Devonshire Rec

Mark Steede is elected president of Devonshire Recreation Club.

December

New cricket coach to be chosen from locals

The Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] announces it will be choosing the next national coach from local pools due to reduced funding that will not allow for an overseas search for Clay Smith’s replacement.

Smith named coach at Flatts

Clay Smith agrees to terms to coach Premier Division newcomers Flatts.