When Presentation College Chaguanas arrived at Fatima grounds on the morning of February 11th, 2020 for their SSCL PowerGen Premiership Division 4th round clash against hosts Fatima College, it surely looked like any other normal day for cricket to them. Lady Luck seemed to even be on their side as captain Aaron Bankay called correctly at the toss and decided to take first knock. The Fatima faithful settled into their seats in the pavilion as Jeremiah Cruickshank led the home team out to field. Bankay himself would walk out to open the Presentation innings together with former National U-15 star Justin Jagessar.
Opening the attack for Fatima from the College end was Jesse Butts. Any notions young Jagessar might have had about an easy first over were quickly dispelled as Butts delivered his opening 4 deliveries at constant pace with excellent line and length keeping the batsman pinned down. A scampered single off the 5th ball was the only run off the over and the next over saw Jagessar spank a lovely cover drive to the boundary and pick up another single to put his team on 6 without loss after 2 overs. As young Butts stood at the top of his mark to begin his 2nd over to Jagessar, the watching crowd had no idea what was about to unfold.
His first two deliveries were pitched on perfect off-stump lines making it impossible to score and then, he produced a fast rising delivery on the body which Jagessar could do nothing with but glove to the keeper down the legside. The Fatima support rose in unison to cheer the wicket, but before they could even get back into their seats the new batsman Rahul Pitiram was sent packing first ball by a beauty of an in-swinger that trapped him plumb in front for LBW. 6-2, Butts on a hattrick and the crowd well and truly roaring. Presentation’s batsmen would see out the over, denying Jesse his prized hattrick, but he was far from done with them.
With the 3rd ball of his 3rd over Jesse delivered another searing in-swinger to the left-handed Bankay that uprooted middle stump to send the opposition skipper packing and the home team into wild celebrations. He completed a maiden and returned in his 4th over to deliver the ball of the morning – a fast-pitched rocket that landed just far enough outside off stump to leave a bewildered Adam Furlonge shouldering arms only to have the ball jag back wickedly off the seam to cannon into his wicket.
The crowd were in their glee and calling for a fifth wicket for young Butts, which he promptly delivered in his 5th over, producing a full and straight yorker to trap his victim dead in front. Emotions were understandably high in the crowd, but none more so than for Jesse’s dad, who was watching his son reap the hard-earned rewards for all his dedication, effort and persistence. By the end of that over, Jesse had the unbelievable figures of 5 overs, 2 maidens, 5 for 6! He had destroyed the Presentation top order to leave them at 20-6 after just 9 overs. Jesse would bowl 3 more overs in the innings finishing with final figures of 5-20 from his 8 overs. For his truly remarkable display, Jesse Butts is the North Zone Star of the Week.
I was lucky to be present to witness this performance in person. Having followed Jesse’s career with interest, I can honestly say that this was truly one of his best spells ever. It shows how much his hard work has paid off.
Deciding to bat 1st after winning the toss on a green top pitch in overcast conditions was Pres 1st mistake. Then sending 2 fourteen yr old boys to bat inside 10 overs to face a swinging new ball was a misjudgment when you had national batsmen padded up with so much experience. After seeing the ball swing on the green pitch they they opened the bowling with a spinner with their leading wicket taking swing pacer not getting the new ball. Then dropping Jerry off said bowler when he came on was writing on the wall. They deserve to lose. Well done to Jesse using his skills to achieve such success is not automatic. His bowling was bang on target especially as the ball was moving around. He exploited the conditions to perfection. We have seen many opening bowlers waste the new ball amd in those very conditions as well. He was exceptional and kudos to the Fatima skipper for bowling him as long as he could in that opening spell to maximize his success