University of the West Indies retain title

Floyd Reifer and Nekoli Parris getting assistance from 12th man Ramnarine Chattergoon © The Nation

It was the perfect end to the perfect story.

Sagicor University of the West Indies (UWI) ended their dream season on Saturday night by defeating Carib Carlton by six wickets to win the Sagicor General Super Cup. The result was their tenth consecutive win of the tournament and they maintained a 100% record this year.

The climax came around 10 pm, as scores of elated students and supporters sprinted onto the 3Ws Oval to hoist Floyd Reifer in the air after they reached 234 for 6 off 48.2 overs. Reifer, 35, was brilliant with the bat hitting 78 not out off 82 balls to walk home to victory in the first day/night match at this level.

He was edged out for the Man-Of-The-Match award by Nekoli Parris who made an accomplished 93 at No. 3 - adding 150 for the third wicket with Reifer - in the march to victory and the winner's cheque of $10,000.

"We came prepared for this and we planned it moment by moment. I was really up for this . . . I was in fighting mode and all the guys gave 100% and more," Reifer told The Nation in the locker room as the night's party got into full swing. "We batted well after the bowlers did a good job for us . . . This is special for the team and very special for me. We played unbeaten [in the Super Cup] this year and I rate this result very highly."

After limiting Carlton to 233 for 6 off 50 overs, UWI were never in trouble during their chase. Reifer joined Parris at 55 for 2 and together they dominated. Reifer crashed eight glorious fours and two towering sixes off 83 balls, while Parris - who would have caught the eye of Sir Garfield Sobers in the stands - showed his class with eight boundaries off 127 balls in three hours of entertainment.

They came together after free-scoring left-hander Omar Phillips showed a blitz of brilliance with 30 from 57 balls - with a memorable whip over mid-wicket off Corey Collymore. "He (Parris) batted so well. He kept his cool and never looked under pressure. He just keeps getting better and is definitely one for the future," Reifer said.

Captain Shirley Clarke, a former Carlton skipper - made little contribution to the win making a single and going wicketless off eight overs - but said that winning the title was testimony to the hard work put in during the season. "We're elated. We have only been in the competition [Division 1] for two years so we feel like true kings. We have worked hard and deserve our success. Thanks to everyone for their contribution," Clarke said. "We thought we could restrict them for around 170 but they got away near the end and managed to get away from us a bit. It was the first time we were chasing under lights, but we were confident because we knew we had depth."

Carlton had a good start from skipper Dale Richards, who made 60 from 68 balls at the top of the innings, but in the middle overs they stalled. The innings had a rousing end as Carlo Morris hit two sixes in 61 not out from 78 balls. He added 26 for the sixth wicket with Marlon Graham (16) and then an unbroken 47 in the final five overs with Nikolai Charles (17 not out).