AFTER a hiatus of two weeks for the Easter vacation, the Department of Youth Development and Sports, in collaboration with the main sponsors Massy United Insurance Saint Lucia Limited, will stage the quarter-final round of this year’s Secondary Schools Under-19 Cricket Tournament on Wednesday 18th April at four venues on the island.
The 50-over-a- side showpiece, which bowls off at 10am, features Choiseul Secondary, Grande Riviere Secondary, St. Mary’s College, Babonneau Secondary, Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, Soufriere Comprehensive, Entreport Secondary and Micoud Secondary.
At the Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort, Choiseul Secondary will come up against Grande Riviere.
The two teams made it to the quarter-final round with wins over Piaye Secondary and Clendon Mason Memorial, respectively.
In the final Group A match, Choiseul defeated Piaye Secondary by 196 runs. Scores in the match: Choiseul 270 for 7 in 34 overs, with Hanif Antoine 65, Marley Hunte not out 47 and Jervon Stephen 23. Bowling for Piaye Secondary, Jervon Albert took 2 for 26.
Piaye was 74 all out in 17 overs. Jervon Stephen picked up 8 for 15 and Shervon Browne 2 for 16.
Choiseul will also have in its lineupHanif Antoine, Marley Hunte, Sky Lafeuille and Jim Peter.
For Grande Riviere Secondary, the likes of Nicage Jules, Evan Alexander, Ronaldo Joseph, Anthony Alexander, MaiusStanislas and Jeaneil Emmanuel are all expected to be in the thick of things.
At the Gros Islet playing field, top of the points table in Group C, St. Mary’s College, will play second-placed team in Group D, Babonneau Secondary. The 2016 champions SMC will be heavily favoured, as some of the Saint Lucia’s leading Under-19 players will be in their lineup.
Windward Islands Under-15 player Akeem Auguste, who last weekend returned to the island from representing the Windwards in the Cricket West Indies Under -15 Tournament in Jamaica, will be on show, along with opening batsman JeyanBoodha, left arm orthodox spinner Simeon Gerson (captain), Amari Venner, Ryan Goodman, Denzil James and Zidane Arthur.
West Indies Under-19 opening batsman and captain for the Babonneau team, Kimani Melius, is expected to leave no stone unturned, as he will be up against some of the players he also captains on the Gros Islet Under -19 squad.
One thing for certain: most of the players from both teams are familiar with the track at the GIPF and the team winning the toss won’t hesitate to bat first.
Also in the Babonneau squad are Rene Montoute, Jelani Cupid, Bolton Sayers, Shakeem Breen, Jonathan Paul and Tarrick Edward,
In quarter-final No.3, defending champions Sir Arthur Lewis Community College will take on the 2015 champions Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School at the Mindoo Phillip Park.
The defending champions top Group D with eight points, ahead of Babonneau on 4 points. In their last preliminary match, they defeated Vide Boutielle Secondary by 9 wickets.
Scores in brief: Vide Boutielle Secondary – 76 all out in 14.3 overs; and SALCC : 79 for 1 in 5.3 overs.
SALCC have a reservoir of experience and will depend heavily on the in-form opening batsmen and captain Dane Edward. The squad also includes Jard Goodman, Dominque Auguste, Stephen Mitchell, Chaz Cepal, Qwaine Henry, Ryheem Joseph, Brant Jean, Sanjay Hayle and Darcy Popo.
Some of these players were the backbone of the side’s success last year. They, along with the younger brigades on the team, have an excellent chance of victory.
Soufriere will have in their lineupKervelProspere, Tertius Jones and Nick Jn Baptiste.
In quarterfinal No.4, top of the points table in Group B Micoud Secondary School will take on the second placed team in Group C the Entrepot Secondary School, at the Dennery playing field.
In their last preliminary match, Entrepot lost to St. Mary’s College by 7 wickets as they were bowled out for 103 in 13.3 overs at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground with Craig Elisse 26 and Jaden Lafeuille 15 their main contributors with the bat; also in the squad, Royce Paul who Picked up 2 for 36 against.
For Micoud Secondary West Indies Under-16 player Garvin Serieux will lead the charge.
Serieux has shown some brilliance with the bat in the SLNCA Inter District U 19 Tournament presently ongoing.
