The commentary panel of the 2022 CG United Super 50 Cup, which concluded this past weekend in Antigua, have named their team of the competition.
The panel is quite prestigious and well respected, consisting of three West Indies fast bowling greats, in Sir Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Colin Croft, who were complimented by the expertise of Matt Floyd, Nikhil Uttamchandani and Mali Richards.
All the traditional regional franchises are represented in the selection, however, there was no room for representatives of Combined Colleges and Campuses and the West Indies Academy, who finished at the base of Zone A and B respectively.
Please see the team below.
Brandon King (Scorpions)
The Jamaican opener, who is a West Indies contracted player, showed his class. King scored 337 runs in eight innings, including of two well-played half centuries. He was the third highest run-scorer in the competition and the highest scoring opening batsman.
Alick Athanaze (Windward Islands Volcanoes)
The left-handed opening batsman from Dominica was the only player to score multiple centuries in the competition, doing so in his first two matches. He ended with 292 runs in the tournament, at an average of 48.66.
Shai Hope – WK (Barbados Pride)
Shai Hope has a reputation for consistency in run scoring in 50-over cricket, especially at the international level, and Hope delivered on this reputation with consistent performances throughout the tournament.
He scored 311 runs in seven innings, at an average of 51 and with a healthy strike rate of 91. He also kept wicket tidily behind the stumps.
Kavem Hodge (Windward Islands Volcanoes)
Hodge was the best all-rounder on show in this year’s Super50. He was consistent with bat and ball throughout the Windwards Islands Volcanoes’ group stage matches, scoring 261 runs in only six innings.
He averaged 52.2, taking 10 wickets at 14.7, with an exceptional economy of 3.67. Kavem was a real standout and could possibly push for selection with bat and ball.
Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad & Tobago Red Force)
Pooran led his team from the front with the bat but was unfortunate to not get over the line in the finals. He ended the competition with 342 runs in seven innings, averaging 114 with a 99 not out and a match-winning century in the semi-final against Barbados Pride.
His ability to power through the middle overs and put pressure on the fielding team is evidenced by his strike rate of 117.
Rovman Powell – Captain (Jamaica Scorpions)
The Jamaica captain took responsibility for his team, batting at number four in the majority of their matches. He ended the tournament at the CG United Super50 Cup’s top run-scorer.
The West Indies international scored 346 runs in eight innings, with an average of 68 and striking at 117. His captaincy and man-management were crucial to his team lifting the CG United Super50 Cup trophy.
Odean Smith (Jamaica Scorpions)
Smith was one of three pacers who ended up tied as top wicket-taker for the tournament with 15 wickets. He was critical for the Scorpions at key moments with the bat, including hitting the winning runs in the final. His 97 runs came at an average of 24.25, while striking over 100. He has proven to be a match winner with either bat or ball.
Dennis Bulli (Jamaica Scorpions)
The left-arm chinaman bowler was one of the two most successful spinners in the tournament. He constantly got the better of his opponents throughout the tournament, with a caught and bowled against Darren Bravo in the final arguably being the highlight. Bulli picked up 14 wickets at 18.64, with a miserly economy of 4.75.
Kofi James (Leeward Islands Hurricanes)
The Antiguan off-break bowler was one of the stars of Leeward Islands Hurricanes, who were unlucky to lose out on a place in the semi-finals due to their head-to-head record against the Barbados Pride. The quality of James’ performances in the group stage meant that he ended up just one wicket short of tying for the top wicket-taker title.
Picking up 14 scalps at an average of 14.64 runs per wicket and stifling teams in the middle overs with his tight bowling, his bowling achieved an impressive economy rate of just an average of 4.28 runs conceded per over.
Nicholson Gordon (Jamaica Scorpions)
The Jamaican right-arm quick bowler continued from his performances in the CPL-winning Jamaica Tallawahs, also captained by Rovman Powell.
He picked up 15 wickets, while bowling with some pace, tying with Odean Smith and Shannon Gabriel as top wicket-taker for the Super50 Cup. He grabbed each wicket at an average of just 21.26 runs and finished with an economy of less than a run a ball.
Shannon Gabriel (Trinidad & Tobago Red Force)
Gabriel dispelled any questions surrounding his fitness early out in the tournament. The Trinidadian pacer, who played his last ODI in 2019, has frightened batting lineups throughout the competition with his blistering pace.
He is the third pacer tied on 15 wickets as the CG United Super 50 Cup’s top wicket-taker spot, picking them up at an incredible average of 14.2 and with an economy of 4.63.
12th Man – Romario Shepherd (Guyana Harpy Eagles)
If not for the tremendous performances by those above, Romario Shepherd could easily hold his own in the ‘Team of the Tournament’. He was a crucial part of the Guyana Harpy Eagles team, especially in big moments at the end of matches.
Like Hodge, he also picked up 10 wickets. Those came at an average of 14.2 and with an economy of 4.63. Shepherd could easily step into this CG United Super50 Cup Team of the tournament and make contributions in all facets of the game.
Tournament Awards
Sir Richie Richardson Award (Most Runs) – Rovman Powell
Sir Curtly Ambrose Award (Most Wickets) – Shannon Gabriel, Nicholson Gordon & Odean Smith
Collis King Award (Best All-Rounder) – Kavem Hodge
Gus Logie Award (Most Catches) – Brandon King
Jeff Dujon Award (Most Dismassals – WK) – Chadwick Walton
