Wicket-keeper Dwight Yorke celebrates his magnificent catch with team-mates Brian Lara, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Bravo. All photos by WICB
An estimated crowd of over 5,000 attended the “Rally ‘Round Dominica” charity cricket match held at the historic Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday evening.
During the game, which was televised live regionally, viewers had the opportunity to pledge their support to the people of Dominica in the wake of the ravages of Tropical Storm Erika.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President’s Celebrity XI led by Jason Holder defeated the University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice Chancellor’s Celebrity team by seven wickets in the T20 match.
Set a target of 155 runs to win the match, big hitting batsman Kieron Pollard blasted the UWI bowlers to all parts of the field with an entertaining innings of 49 from 22 balls in 31 minutes with 5 massive sixes and two fours.
The hard hitting batsman had the thousands of spectators in the stands jumping and cheering loudly when he struck the ball out of the ground for a huge six off the bowling of his fellow Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo. He retired with the score on 132 for 3 to give Stafanie Taylor the captain of the West Indies ladies the opportunity to bat.
Pollard came to the crease after the fall of the third wicket with the President XI on 62 during sixth overs.
The West Indies XI lost an early wicket when Garth Garvey who opened the innings with Shivnarine Chanderpaul was dismissed for 1 with the score on 6 in the second over.
Marlon Samuels who replaced Garvey launched a violent attack on the UWI bowlers, he scored a rapid 26 runs with 5 fours and one 6 in just 8 minutes.The stylish Jamaican batsman played several elegant strokes on both sides of the wicket. He was out in the sixth over.
After Samuels’ dismissal, Carlos Brathwaite joined the runs feast with a quick fire 19 runs from 11 balls, he batted for 14 minutes striking two fours and a towering six.
Chanderpaul was carefully compiling his runs while the other batsmen were flogging the UWI bowlers, after Pollard retired the Tiger played several attacking strokes , he was 46 not out from 38 balls with two fours and two sixes when the President XI reach their target, Stafanie Taylor was 4 not out.
Former West Indies fast bowler Sir Curtley Ambrose rolled back the years with a mean opening spell of 3 overs, 23 runs one wicket. Another ex West Indies pacer Ian Bradshaw took 2 wickets for 32 runs with his three overs of left arm medium pace. Dwayne Bravo was smashed all over Kensington Oval, he bowled three expensive overs for 36 runs. Vice Chancellor of the UWI Sir Hillary Beckles was hampered by the batsmen, he conceded a whooping 26 runs from 1.4 overs. Throughout the mayhem Shane Shillingford bowled two tight overs for 13 runs.
Earlier in the UWI XI won the toss and elected to bat, Brian Lara who opened the innings with Darren Bravo took the fans back down memory lane with a superb display in the art of batting.
The master batsman displayed a fine array of strokes in his score of 63 not out which included eight majestic fours and one towering six, he shared an opening partnership of 31 with Bravo who made 14. Dwayne Bravo scored 35 from 32 balls with 2 fours and two sixes. Sir Hillary Beckles was 10 not out at the end of the 20th over.
Stafanie Taylor took two wickets for 16 runs from two overs and leg spinner Devendra Bishoo took 2 wickets from two overs for 16 runs. Samuels and Garvey took a wicket.
The members of the WICB Celebrity XI were Jason Holder captain, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlos Brathwaite, Kieron Pollard, Stafanie Taylor, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Denesh Ramdin and Shai Hope.
The Vice Chancellor Celebrity XI were Sir Hillary Beckles captain, Sir Curtly Ambrose, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Yohan Blake, Deandra Dottin Brian Lara, Kavem Hodge, Floyd Reifer and Shane Shillingford.
West Indies men’s captain Jason Holder congratulates West Indies women’s team captain Stafanie Taylor
Brian Lara punches gloves with Olympic medallist Yohan Blake during the UWI Vice Chancellor’s XI innings
Lets be realistic here now…. Dominica is in no position after such a devastating storm to hold any kind of event. Let the country at least recover.
This was a magical moment for the West Indies. It shows the world we are united in our hour of need. My special thanks to all who participated to help Dominica. God bless all of you and your families and let us as Caribbean people become closer and more loving towards each other. One Love.
Thank you so much all you players and organizers. God has richly blessed this humanitarian effort from the Cricketing West Indies. Dominica says Thanks for your Love.
…and Supporters of all kind.
BIGGGG THANKKKK U GUYS
The heartfelt support that I have seen during this entire ordeal from out Caribbean brothers and sisters has truly made me smile even through this storm. Thank you.
A huge thanks to ALL those involved in organising this wonderful Match. Such a heartwarming & humbling gesture. This is a true demonstration of LOVE. We (Dominicans) really appreciate it! We will NEVER forget that when we needed you, you were there!!! God bless The a West Indies Cricket Team!!! God bless DOMINICA! I love my Island.
It was indeed very nice to see our Caribbean people come together to rally behind Dominica. As a Dominican let me thank the WICB, UWI and players for taking the field for us. I also want to thank the large crowd that turned out for showing up real big.
What joy it was to see Lara bat again and Ambe bowling! Both players need to make a come back because Windies need them.
The game was timely for two very important reasons: 1. Dominica needs a lot of help and our spirits were uplifted by what we saw. 2. PM Skareo needed it so his already busy mind could be diverted from the arrest of his very good friend in the US this Friday. I am quite sure that news had the PM very scarewe.
Peter Augustine, Please call a 7 day prayer and fasting for our PM because Dominica cannot allow him to have to deal with any more stress at this time. Dominica really needs the best PM ever!
Friends helping friends. There are really some compassionate and kind people in the world. Note how they rallied for the sake of Dominica.
A Big Thank You to each one of you who organized. played and participated as onlookers in this Rally ‘Round Dominica charity match. It is greatly appreciated.
Dominicans should be pleased, proud and grateful that Dominica and nationals are thought of and helped to this extent to re-build Dominica. In time of need we know who our friends are and who are truly kind.
The Lord has taken note of their compassion for Dominica and is pleased with their generous effort. He of all has blest them all!
The next time I meet anyone whose country/nationals have been generous to Dominica, I will not hesitate to inform them about it and express my sincere thanks, on behalf of Dominica nationals in general.
This is so lovely … I am truly moved by my West Indian brothers and sisters … and how they have so willingly rallied around us, Dominica.
Thank you to all those who took the time out and made the effort to make this happen. From the hearts of every Dominican, thank you so much.
Thank you so much!
Great initiative by UWI and WICB. I enjoyed my cricketing hero Sir Brian Lara
Quite humbling and beautiful to see our neighbors stand up for us in such grand fashion. I am surely no cricket fan but the symbolism here speaks volumes. A heartfelt Thank You to all involved.
So true. Meanwhile, we are back home trying to bite each others’ head off.
a special mention could have been made of the Dominican players… did they make it to the field?
A. George, they were mentioned. I watched it on caribvision.
As far i can see you did not watch the match!
Ironically while everyone else is working hard to help us rebuild Dominica after Erika, we in Dominica are rolling over and playing dead. Not even a charity concert for our own good we can organize. Very sad.
Thanks WICB.
Charity events for Dominica should be held outside of Dominica at this stage. We are still recovering, we are not yet in a position to do business as usual. That is why the charity concert can’t get off the ground as Dominicans have much more important things on their minds.
“Rally Around Dominica Cricket Match” Impressive Thank You, to the organizers, players sponsors and supporters. We greatly appreciate it.
With your thoughtfulness and kindness Dominica and Dominicans will recover and rebuild. Thank You Jesus.
one love viva to all the the cricketers who stood up for my island dominica god all ready have you all riches in heaven
Thanks Barbados, WICB, UWI, West Indies team and all those who rallied around Dominica. We are touched by your outpouring of love.
Outstanding display of cricket prowess and West Indian unity. Long live a united West Indies Federation . Dominica stood for federation and thanks all who played, or attended the game, in the spirit of what Bob Marley called One Love.