History in Hardtimes as Hawks Soar to Inaugural T7S Hit and Run Title

By Vijay Harrinarain
Hardtimes, Nevis | May 25, 2026

The Trevier Smithen in collaboration with A-1 Farms Nevis 7-A-Side Hit and Run tape ball competition reached its climax Sunday with the final matchday featuring two semifinals, a third-place playoff and the grand final. The teams played with much spirit and determination, looking to usher out the tournament on a high note and mark their names in the register of history. Fans were treated to some of the most competitive cricket of the tournament, as each game featured lusty blows, wily bowling and acrobatic fielding.

Semi-Final 1: Villa United vs. Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts

Villa Surge Past Thunderbolts to Earn Finals Spot

The first semifinal saw Group A champions and the tournament’s only unbeaten team, Villa United, take on Zion Thunderbolts, who finished second in Group B with a youthful lineup to book their spot in the semis. Villa United won the toss and elected to field. The decision looked to be a good one as their disciplined bowling unit restricted the Thunderbolts to 38 for 2 in 4 overs. They continued to tighten the noose on the Thunderbolts batting and when the jackpot over was called in the final over of the innings, Anand Bhim snared 2 for 6, setting the Thunderbolts back even further. The Thunderbolts’ innings concluded on 57 for 4 in 7 overs. Captain Dio Hendrickson was the standout batsman, scoring 27 from 24 deliveries before falling in the final over. No other Thunderbolts batsman was able to cross double figures.

In response, Villa United got off to a flyer, thanks in large part to a wayward opening over from young Nyanjay Liburd, who was carted for 42. The Thunderbolts removed Rakesh Subramani via run-out off the first delivery of the second over, but that was as much joy as they would find for the rest of the match. Man of the Match Chris Latchman saw his side home with a brutal 39 from 15 deliveries as Villa romped to 61 for 1 in 2.4 overs to book their spot in the final.

Official Result: Villa United beat Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts by 5 wickets.

Semi-Final 2: Challenger’s Construction Pond Hill Hawks vs. Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls

Bulls Left Seeing Red as Hawks Swoop into Finals

Semifinal 2 paired Group A winners Pond Hill Hawks, the competition’s highest-scoring team, against Group B’s second-place Hardtimes Bulls, who completed the tournament’s fastest chase. What promised to be a run-filled encounter did not disappoint. Winning a crucial toss, Hawks captain Adelvin Phillip elected to bat and alongside Alvin Cyril got his team off to a flyer. After setting the tone with a 20-run opening over, the pair called for the jackpot over in the third and completely obliterated Davis Webbe for a remarkable 46-run over. Cyril was dismissed off the final ball of the fourth over for 34, but captain Phillip, adjudicated Man of the Match, batted through the innings to finish on 67 not out from 24 deliveries. He was supported late by Bodgenarine Sharma, who contributed 11 from 4 deliveries. For the Bulls, Reon Solomon and Carlton Pluck grabbed a wicket each but could do little to stem the haemorrhaging of runs. The Hawks ended on a competitive 145 for 2 in their 7 overs.

Needing to score at least 20 an over to stay in the game, the Bulls called for the jackpot over from the start and managed 20 runs from it. The Hawks bowlers did their best to stave off a determined opening stand between Carlton Pluck and Carlon Smithen Jr. worth 69, with Pluck falling to Javani Tyson for 39 in the fourth over. Some truly ill-disciplined bowling gave the Bulls a fighting chance, but the total proved beyond them. The Bulls ended on 114 for 2 in 7 overs. Captain Phillip and Javani Tyson each finished with a wicket as the Hawks flew into the final.

Official Result: Challenger’s Construction Pond Hill Hawks beat vs. Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls by 31 runs.

3rd Place Playoff: Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts vs Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls

Bulls Charge Through Powerless Thunderbolts to Third Place

Smarting from their earlier defeat and with pride on the line, the Thunderbolts faced the Bulls in their final match of the tournament, a battle for third place. Bulls captain Carlton Pluck won the toss and elected to bat. The Bulls took their hurt out on the Thunderbolts bowling as skipper Pluck scored a whirlwind 46 from 17 deliveries that featured 1 boundary and 6 maximums, deservedly earning the Man of the Match award. He was supported by Carlon Smithen Jr., who scored 19 from 8 deliveries following the early loss of opener Reon Solomon for just 5. The Thunderbolts, as has been the case throughout the tournament, fielded a youthful side that strove diligently but could not contain the rampaging Bulls’ batting. The Bulls ended their innings on 133 for 3 in 7 overs. Speedster Ulano Smithen snared 2 for 24 in his 2 overs, while Nyanjay Liburd finished with 1 for 16 from his solitary over.

The young Thunderbolts batsmen tried their best to keep up with the required rate, but disciplined bowling from the Bulls kept them at bay. Opener Ulano Smithen struck 24 from 9 deliveries before succumbing to Weslie Huggins. His opening partner, Bryce Fyfield, chipped in with 18 before being run out by sharp work from Reon Solomon and Carlton Pluck. Rajaun Fyfield provided a glimmer of hope with 28 from 6 deliveries, but the target proved too much. Weslie Huggins finished with 2 for 47 from 2 overs, while Man of the Match Pluck ended with 2 for 25 from his 2 overs, including 2 wickets in the jackpot over. The Bulls claimed third place.

Official Result: Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls beat Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts by 24 runs.

Final: Villa United vs Challenger’s Construction Pond Hill Hawks

Hawks Ground Villa to Fly Away with the Championship Trophy
It was the final that spectators had called before the first ball of the day was bowled. The undefeated and irrepressible Villa United came up against the battle-tested Hawks in the tournament’s closing encounter to determine who would etch their name in history as the first winner of the TS7 Hit and Run 7-A-Side tournament. Captain Adelvin Phillip won the toss and elected to field.

Villa United faced a gritty, determined Hawks bowling lineup that was well backed in the field. Talisman Chris Latchman, looking uncharacteristically out of sorts under the weight of the occasion, was attempting to reverse sweep the fast bowlers rather than play his usual dominant straight drives. The Hawks had their feathers up and were fighting tooth and nail, a spirit epitomized in the fourth over when Bodgenarine Sharma made an acrobatic effort to stop a six off Rakesh Subramani, diving over the rope to bat the ball back in play, only to leave himself injured in the process. Play stopped briefly as medical staff attended to Sharma on the ground. Unable to continue, he was replaced by T’jhari Clarke. The Hawks used that moment to rally further and tighten their stranglehold on Villa’s batsmen. Subramani ultimately retired out for 3 from 11 deliveries at the end of that over, highlighting the vice grip the Hawks bowlers had established. Latchman found his groove and, alongside Alvin Hardyal, put on a 36-run partnership over the next three overs before falling to what can only be described as the catch of the tournament from Javani Tyson. As Latchman looked to pull Captain Phillip behind square, Tyson dove to his right to take a one-handed screamer, much to the delight of the crowd, who gave the effort a standing ovation. Villa United posted 86 for 2 in their 7 overs. Captain Phillip was the lone wicket taker, finishing with 1 for 27 in 2 overs, but no other Hawks bowler conceded more than 20 runs, a testament to their collective bowling performance.

The Hawks got off to a sedate start and lost substitute Clarke early in the second over with the score on 13. That brought Man of the Match Javani Tyson to the crease. Alongside his captain, they put on a 63-run partnership before Tyson was bowled by Latchman for 23 from 7 deliveries. Captain Adelvin Phillip was the spine of the chase, anchoring the innings with 30 not out from 16 deliveries to steer his team to victory. The Villa United men, for the first time in the tournament, were guilty of exceptionally poor bowling, which did little to help defend what was already an under-par total. Only Chris Latchman and Rakesh Subramani picked up wickets for Villa. The Hawks finished on 92 for 2 in 4.2 overs, flying away with the inaugural championship.

Official Result: Challenger’s Construction Pond Hill Hawks beat Villa United by 4 wickets.

There was one final match on offer, JLPS vs. EPPS in a 7-over game played under lights, followed by the closing ceremony, chaired by Verna Grant.

Match officials were recognised and awarded a plaque for their contributions to the tournament by the organisers:

• Umpires: Javia Liburd, Dwight ‘Teeny’ Edwards, Rudolph ‘Mucky’ Prentice and Saneldo Willet.
• Official Scorer: Vijay Harrinarain
A donation was also made by the organising committee to Joycelyn Liburd Primary School and Elizabeth Pemberton Primary School for their participation in the exhibition match.

Individual awards and tournament standings are as follows:
• Junior Player Most Runs: Jaedon Browne (Clive Evelyn Construction Hanley’s Road Mad Dawgs), 19 runs
• Junior Player Most Wickets: Nyanjay Liburd (Bull’s Gym Zion Thunderbolts), 4 wickets
• Adult Player Most Runs: Chris Latchman (Villa United), 194 runs
• Adult Player Most Wickets: Rakesh Subramani (Villa United), 7 wickets
• Third Place: Starlight Promotions Hardtimes Bulls
• Second Place: Villa United
• First Place: Challenger’s Construction Pond Hill Hawks
Sponsors for the various awards are as follows:
• All Player of the Match awards (Six Pack Brewery drinks and cash prize, $100) sponsored by the Bank of Nevis.
• Cash prizes for Junior and Adult Players with Most Runs and Wickets sponsored by Mr Aljay Newton, Director of Sports.
• Cash prizes for Junior Player with Most Runs and Wickets by Carl Jones Construction and Plumbing Services.
• Case of brewery drinks for Junior Players with Most Runs and Wickets sponsored by Quinnito ‘Quan’ Griffin of HD Detailing Services.
• Third Place cash prize donated anonymously to the organising committee.
• Case of brewery drinks for Third Place donated by Sidamo and Seba Jones of Royal Rampage.
• Second Place cash prize donated by Zannah Business Solutions.
• Second Place cash prize by Keith Elliott of First Choice Auto.
• First Place cash prize sponsored by Keith Elliott of First Choice Auto.
• First Place cash prize sponsored by the tournament organizing committee.