Blake leads the way

ACE sprinter Yohan Blake hit top form at the St Jago Twenty20 Celebrity cricket match at Monk Street on Thursday.

Blake showed his versatility with a good all-round performance. He first took five for seven then returned to hit 40 to lead his Yellow team to an emphatic four-wicket win over the Garth Garvey-led Green team.

The match, which was organised by both Blake and Garvey to help raise funds for the school's sports programme, was full of excitement despite the late withdrawal of Blake's training partner, world 100 and 200 metres record holder Usain Bolt.

Batting first, the Green team got a good start from openers Sadiki Bolt (brother of Usain) and national senior representative Gavin Wallace. They put on 36 before Wallace went for 13 and Bolt for 27.

Garvey, however, hit 68 with seven fours and five sixes to steady the innings. He got good support from national 400 metres record holder Jermaine Gonzales, who chipped in with 22, which included two sixes and one four as the team ended on 166 off their allotted 20 overs.

Leading from the front, Blake, with his medium pace, took five for seven off four overs.

When Blake's Yellow team started their chase, they were off to a poor start as they lost their first wicket with no run on the board. Opener Oneil Wright was sent packing, bowled by pacer Abadoo Bryan. The team struggled before Blake and his former schoolmate, Aaron Daley Jr, featured in a fourth-wicket stand of 93 as they brought the score to 156 and in sight of victory. Both batsmen fell with the score on 156, Daley for 53 (seven fours) and Blake 40 (three fours and three sixes). The other batsmen easily got past the winning total.

Blake was very elated. "I am happy to have come back to my school in an effort to help raise funds for the institution and also entertain the supporters," he said.