School of the Nations lost their opening match of the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament in Barbados, going down by seven wickets to Queen’s College Barbados yesterday.
Queen’s won the toss and elected to bat second in the match which was reduced to a 34-overs-a-side contest.
Nations batsmen struggled after being sent in and were bundled out in 14 overs for a paltry score of 65.
Queen’s, in reply, raced to 67-3 in 13.4 overs.
Renell Smith and Ethan Hicks ripped through the School of the Nations batting line up like a hot knife through butter, picking up four wickets each for 16 and 31 runs respectively.
With just 15 runs on the board, Nations lost Rahul Singh, Andrew Samaroo, Tuen Hicks and Wayne Bollers in the space of three runs.
The only batsman to reach double figures was Rajendra Singh who made the top score of 11 runs from a mere 12 balls with one six and one four.
Nations, however, were aided with 19 extras which boosted the below par total.
In reply, Tatesh Shivrattan struck in his first over removing Ajari Waterman who was caught and bowled off the first delivery while Dambuka Ngqundo removed Osaze Smith and Aaron Griffith to leave Queen’s reeling at 6-3.
But Marc Cyrus and Hicks partnered for a brisk 61-run fourth wicket partnership to steer their team to victory.
Hicks remained unbeaten on 11 while Cyrus was closing in on a half century, ending on 47 not out.
Cyrus smashed six fours and two sixes in his 28-ball innings.
Ngqundo finished with 2-8 from his four overs while Shivrattan picked up 1-17 in five overs.
Nations will have a chance to redeem themselves when they face Foundation School of Barbados today.
