BRILLIANT BRITANNY BLOWS AWAY BLANCHISSEUSE

On Wednesday 4^th March 2020, the PowerGen North Zone Girls’ Open Division saw a highly anticipated clash between perennial champions Holy Name Convent and their closest challengers Blanchisseuse Secondary unfold at CIC grounds on Serpentine Road. The ladies of Holy Name were aiming for their 3^rd consecutive zonal title and 4^th overall in the past 5 years. Standing between them and glory were a determined and seasoned outfit from the North Coast of the island. Blanchisseuse Secondary, under the guidance of coach Amin Ali, had been showing steady improvements over the past couple years, having captured the junior zonal title with many of their current squad in 2018. The stage was set for an intriguing match that would most likely determine which team would go on to lift the title.

Holy Name captain Britanny Mahabir called correctly at the toss and decided to put her opponents in to bat, showing great confidence in her bowling unit. This would prove to be an inspired decision early on, as the opening bowling tandem of the experienced Gabrielle Doopan and the young 12 year old debutant Zakiyah Harrilal quickly found their rhythm, taking a wicket each to have Blanchisseuse in a spot of bother at 20-2 after the 5^th over of their 20-over innings. Mahabir rested them both at this point and called upon her capable backups in Anya Blenman and Isabella Ramdeen. They would combine for 4 overs which cost 25 runs and earned a wicket for Blenman to leave Blanchisseuse on 45-3 after the 9^th over. Skipper Mahabir then recalled her strike bowlers to turn the screws on her opponents and they dutifully obliged, picking up 2 more quick wickets in 3 overs to reduce the Blanchisseuse ladies to 54-5 after 12 overs.

Like a shark scenting blood in the water, the Holy Name captain would take up the attack herself at the start of over number 13. As she prepared to deliver her first ball, facing her was Sheniah Martin, the new batting sensation for Blanchisseuse, who had thus far stoutly resisted the Holy Name strike force despite wickets falling around her and had been at the wicket from the first ball of the innings. Mahabir’s first 2 deliveries were a dot ball and a wide and then the carnage began. Ball 3 cannoned into Martin’s wicket to send the Blanchisseuse top scorer packing and the Holy Name supporters cheering. In her trademark calm and unruffled style, Mahabir simply ran in and delivered her 4^th and 5^th ball with her famed pace and accuracy to clean bowl the next 2 batters and bag a hattrick. The HNC chants from beyond the boundary were deafening and the supporters were urging Mahabir on for a 4^th wicket in a row. It was not to be however as the last ball of the over was just kept out by the batter. The Blanchisseuse batters would then face a quiet over from Havana Ramdeen scoring just the solitary run before Mahabir would stand at the top of her mark for her 2^nd over. This one would last just the 3 deliveries – wicket, wide, wicket – to bring the Blanchisseuse innings to a swift and stunning end for just 56 runs. Holy Name’s opening pair then backed up their skipper’s efforts by chasing down their total without losing a wicket, finishing on 60-0 in just 7.5 overs.

Britanny finished her amazing performance with the figures of 1.3 overs, 5 for 2, with both of those runs coming as wides. The batters simply could not put bat to ball and had no answer for her pace and unerring accuracy. For her truly unbelievable display, Britanny Mahabir is the undisputed Star of the Week.