St. Lucian female cricketer Nerissa Crafton has been named captain of the Windward Islands Under – 19 women’s team to play an invitational cricket tournament scheduled to bowl off today in Trinidad and Tobago.
The tournament is geared towards the continuous development of upcoming players, to give them an opportunity to showcase their talent. The competition will also serve to expose players to competition at the highest level.
Tomorrow the Windwards will play host Trinidad and Tobago from 9:30 a.m. and Barbados at 2:30 p.m. On Friday they meet Guyana from 9:30 a.m. The invitational tournament goes straight in semifinal 1 and 2 at 2:30 p.m. on the same day at Gilbert Park and the National Cricket Centre; while the finals and third place play off will be played on Saturday 25 from 9:30 a.m..
Meanwhile, Crafton who is originally from the Choiseul community, but migrated to Cul- de- Sac and now lives at Goodlands, commenced her cricketing career at the tender age of 12, playing in the Choiseul Domestic League in 2010 and was further enthused when she commenced her schooling at the Ciceron Secondary School and later represented the school team in the boys Under-15 school competition. Equally poised, as the first female to play this competition among the boys and later played with the school senior team.
It was prior to the commencement of the 2012, St.Lucia National Cricket Association Women’s Cricket Domestic League that Head Coach Philippa Thomas Eudovic invited Crafton to represent the South Castries Lionesses who emerged champions of the Acynta Auguste 50 overs competition. Not only did the selectors admire her left hand batting prowess, her leadership qualities did not go unnoticed as she was appointed captain of the Youth Team at the Regional Level in the 2013 and 2014 invitational Tournament held in Trinidad and Tobago. She continued to demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm and potential, which was further nurtured by the SLNCA through the National Coach, Philippa Thomas Eudovic Crafton gained selection on the SLNCA senior national team.
Crafton went on to captain the SLNCA Development Team that played undefeated in the 2014 Alicia John T/20 competition. Leading by example, she scored 67 and bagged 4 for 26 against the Southern Zone to win the match against some experienced players.
She was adjudged the most outstanding player of the SLNCA 2014 Domestic League and the 2014 Female Cricketer of the year.
To date Crafton has maintained her place on the SLNCA national team, she gained selection on the Northern Windward Island Women’s Cricket Team last year and she is one of five players selected on the 2016 Inaugural Windward Island Women’s Cricket Team.
The young female cricketer credits her achievement to her mother, Sophia Sam along with other family members, National Coach Philippa Thomas Eudovic and school teacher and team manager Eugena Gregg who prepares her psychologically.