Bolt Sizzles To Fastest Time On Home Soil

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – World and Olympic triple gold medallist Usain Bolt was in devastating form at Saturday night’s Jamaica International Invitational, clocking the fourth fastest 200 metres time ever here at the National Stadium to rattle off yet another amazing feat.

In front of a record turn out of nearly 30 000 spectators Bolt did not disappoint as he sent them home with a special time of 19.57 seconds – his best performance on home soil. “I had to come out here and give Jamaica a good show,” said Bolt, after clocking his latest amazing time to dominate the 200m.

“This is the first time the Invitational has got such a big crowd, so I came out and gave the people what they came for. I did my best and I hope they appreciate it,” he added with a laugh.

His time was only behind his World record of 19.19, his previous record of 19.30 and American Michael Johnson’s 19.32. Bolt has also ran 19.57.

“19.56 is very good [but] I am not trying to break any records this season,” said Bolt, who said the race was just a test to see how his training programme had been progressing.?

American Wallace Spearmon finished second in 19.98 while his compatriot Ryan Bailey was third in 20.43.Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown took the women’s event in 22.60, with Cayman Islands’ Cydonie Mothersill taking second in 22.70 and American

Bianca Knight, third in 22.77. Campbell-Brown was pleased with her victory.

“Victory is the first thing and the time follows,” she said. “I am happy that I finished healthy and I am pleased.”

Meanwhile, American Tyson Gay had another impressive outing in the one lap event, this time winning it in 45.05.

Jermaine Gonzales of Jamaica was second in 45.22 while Trinidad & Tobago’s World Championships bronze medalist Renny Quow finished third in 45.64. Ricardo Chambers was fourth in 45.83.

Gay admitted this race was tougher than the 44.89 he ran two weeks ago.

“I worked a bit harder trying to finish,” he said. “It was very hard, because my legs still hurt.”

In the women’s 400 metres, Jamaican Novlene Williams-Mills kept her form, overcoming a rocky start to win in a world leading time of 50.32. Monica Hargrove of the USA was second in 51.42 while Dehasha Trotter, also of the USA, was third in 51.52.

In the women’s 100m, American Carmelita Jeter won the battle against her Jamaican counterparts, posting 10.94 to beat Kerron Stewart (10.96), another early season world leader.

Jamaican Nesta Carter won the men’s 100m in 10.09 seconds ahead of American Darvis Patton (10.23) and Trinidad & Tobago’s Richard Thompson (10.25).

Jamaican Kenia Sinclair, a former World indoors medallist, took the women’s 800m with a worldleading one minute, 58.62, also a meet record. Grenadian Niesha Bernard-Thomas ran a personal best 1:59.60 for second.

Josanne Lucas of Trinidad & Tobago took the women’s 400m hurdles in 54.96 ahead of Dominique Darden of USA (55.78) while Kerron Clement of the USA won the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.55 ahead of Jamaican Isa Phillips (48.87). Ginnie Powell Crawford of the United States snatched the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.72 ahead of Jamaican Vonette Dixon (12.84).

Dwight Thomas of Jamaica took the men’s 110m hurdles event in 13.33.

 

Styris Says
Low Caribbean Wickets won’t Suit Black Caps Style

GEORGETOWN, Guyana CMC – Black Caps all-rounder Scott Styris fears his side will struggle on the slow wickets in the Caribbean during the World Twenty20 Championship.

Though the Kiwis won both their warm-up matches against Ireland and West Indies, Styris said they were not accustomed to the pitches and were uncomfortable batting on them.

“It’s the nature of the pitches, they are really difficult to bat on, and very different to what we’re used to back home. They’re not like the other tours I’ve been on here in the Caribbean. It’s going to be tough going,” Styris predicted.

“We’re all still trying to figure out how best to bat on them. They’re very tired wickets and they’ve been used a lot. Batting is not easy, and getting yourself in is the hard part.”

Despite this, Styris played a key role against West Indies on Wednesday, picking up four for 18 with his medium pace to send the hosts tumbling to a seven-run defeat in their only warm-up game.

The Windies appeared headed for victory before Styris took three wickets in just seven balls to ensure a Black Caps triumph, as they successfully defended a modest 125.

“It’s the nature of Twenty20 cricket, you’re never really out of it,” the 34-year-old said. “If you can pick up a few wickets or get a couple of maidens together, it puts pressure on the opposition and false shots come from that. Maybe scores of 120- 130 are not so bad over here at the moment. “It isn’t easy to bat on and the wickets do suit my style of bowling. I was very pleased with the way the bowling went, it’d be nice if I could contribute with the bat as well.”

New Zealand meet Sri Lanka in the opening game of the tournament at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.

Last year in England, they reached the second round stage before crashing out after losing two of their three Super Eight matches.

Frustrated Collingwood Wants Change In DL Rules

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – England captain Paul Collingwood is not a happy camper and it is because of the controversial Duckworth/Lewis Method.

“There’s a major problem with this Duckworth-Lewis in this form of the game,” a frustrated Collingwood lamented Monday after watching England lose a rainaffected encounter against West Indies in the World Twenty20 Championship.

“I’ve got no problems with it in the 50-over form. But I know it’s made us very frustrated here. It certainly has to be revised for this form of the game.

“I’m no mathematician. I really don’t know what the equation should be. But you’re certainly backs against the wall when it works out like that.

“We played a near perfect game, and lost. The only thing we are frustrated about is the Duckworth-Lewis equation.”

England rattled up an impressive 191 for five at the Guyana National Stadium after being sent in but rain after 2.2 overs of the Windies reply saw the target reduced to 60 from six overs. The hosts duly won with a ball to spare prompting Collingwood’s calls for a change to the T20 rules.

It was the second straight year England had been hurt by the DL Method following their loss to the Windies in last year’s tournament at the Oval in London.

As a result, England face a must-win situation against minnows Ireland on Tuesday in order to reach the Super Eight, second round.

“I guess it puts a little bit of added pressure on us,” conceded Collingwood.

“We know what we’ve got to do. If we win six games now, we win a World Cup.”

He added: “We don’t know what’s going to happen with the weather. But we pray for a 20-over game. We hope if we get that we can win.”

England’s demise saw West Indies qualify for the second round for the second year running.

 

Windies end warm-up campaign with win over Kiwis

Indies women won their final warmup game ahead of their campaign in the World Twenty20 Championship when they beat New Zealand by three wickets off the last ball yesterday. Playing at St Mary’s Park, West Indies chased down their target of 154 to complete a successful warmup phase with their first tournament match carded for tomorrow against South Africa.

The hosts were propelled by a top score of 31 from Deandra Dottin while opener Juliana Nero got 20, in a stand of 51 for the third wicket that hauled the Windies around from 39 for two in the seventh over.

Dottin faced 17 balls and stroked two fours and two sixes while Nero struck a single boundary in facing 31 balls. Both fell in the space of two runs to leave their side 92 for four in the 12th over.

They further slipped to 135 for seven in the 18th over but Pamela Lavine hit 17 from 14 balls and captain Merissa Aguilleira got 11 from five balls, to steer the Windies home. Needing seven off the last two balls, Aguilleira blasted a six off the penultimate delivery before getting a single off the last ball.

Off-spinning captain Amy Watkins was the best bowler with three for 23.

Earlier, the left-handed Watkins carved out 56 from 36 balls with eight fours and a six to rally her side to 153 for seven.

Nicola Browne stroked a cameo 20-ball 30 with four fours and a six while Sara McGlashan got 20 from 19 balls.

 

England win again, as Aussies and India join In

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Title-holders England finished their warm-up phase for the Women’s World Twenty20 Championship unbeaten by completing a convincing 79-run win over Sri Lanka yesterday.

Batting first at the St Paul’s Sports, they rattled up 160 for five from their allotted 20 overs with Claire Taylor scoring 70 and Jenny Gunn getting 42.

They then restricted Sri Lanka to 81 all out off 16.3 overs with 21- year-old off-spinner Danielle Hazell taking three for nine and left-arm spinner Holly Colvin grabbing two for 15.

On Sunday, they beat India by 25 runs in their first match. In the second match at the venue, Australia beat Pakistan by 82 runs to also tune up nicely for the tournament.