PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Powell saves the day
published: Saturday | January 29, 2005

Powel (right) in the company of West Indies great Andy Roberts. -File photo

IT WAS described as a dream match by many but for the man in question, Daren Powell, it was one that saved his country.

Powell has been bowling extremely well all season but last week's performance, which spurred Jamaica to a nail-biting 10-run win over hosts Barbados made him the hero of his team's third successive triumph in the 2005 Carib Beer Cup championship.

Powell's performance earned him The Gleaner's Top Performer of the Week. He completed his heroics by sending last man Jason Bennett's off stump flying with a yorker to dismiss the double crown champions 10 runs short of their target.

Earlier in the day, Powell broke the back of the Bajans' middle-order batting line-up, picking up the wickets of Sherwin Campbell (0), Dwayne Smith (0) and Shawn Graham (11).

However, that was not the highlight of the player's performance. It was when he and Nikita Miller, two former St. Elizabeth Technical players, dug Jamaica out of trouble from 26 for seven on the second day.

On the third and final day, Powell and Miller extended their telling eighth-wicket partnership from 69 to 82 in 23.3 overs before Miller went for 26 in 108 minutes.

Powell, however, continued to plug his way and in the process, took his score to 56 before he was well-caught by wicketkeeper Patrick Browne tumbling to his left.

­ A. F.