ECCB 1st Division: Better Hope A outclass LBI A

A magnificent all-round display led by batsman Navin Singh propelled Better Hope “A” to a convincing seven-wicket victory over LBI “A” in the East Coast Cricket Board Naven’s Construction First Division 50 Overs Competition on Sunday. The visitors chased down a challenging total of 196 in commanding fashion, reaching 198 for 3 in just 24.4 overs.

After winning the toss, LBI “A” skipper opted to take first strike on a good batting surface. Their top order got off to a steady start, with Kyle Micheal anchoring the innings with a composed 51, supported by Imran Mohamed (41) and Sean Gaskin (38). Despite their efforts, regular breakthroughs by the Better Hope bowlers kept the scoring in check, preventing LBI “A” from building any substantial partnerships.
Ravi Singh was particularly impressive with the ball, maintaining tight lines and finishing with figures of 2 for 17, while Somesh Boyer provided key support with 2 for 38. Their disciplined bowling restricted LBI “A” to 196 for 8 in 27.4 overs, leaving Better Hope with a gettable target on a fast outfield.
In response, Better Hope “A” wasted no time asserting dominance. Navin Singh played one of the finest innings of the season, crafting a brilliant 96, filled with crisp drives and powerful stroke play all around the wicket. His partnership with Ravi Singh, who contributed a solid 41, formed the backbone of the chase.
The duo combined patience with aggression, punishing anything loose and rotating the strike efficiently to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Although Kyle Micheal continued his fine all-round performance by claiming 2 for 35, the LBI “A” bowlers found little success against the confident Better Hope batting line-up. The target was comfortably reached in 24.4 overs, sealing a 7-wicket victory and underlining Better Hope “A”s strength in the competition.