WEST INDIES UNDER-19 opening batsman, Saint Lucia’s Kimani Melius, has made the news again — this time with his 27th career century and the fifth for the 2018 cricket season.
Under near-perfect weather conditions, his century came during the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, National Senior Male Cricket Team’s ongoing preparation for the Windward Islands Limited Overs Tournament, scheduled to bowl off here on Saturday 26th May at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground and the Mindoo Phillip Park.
Saturday’s game was the first in a series of four trial practice matches scheduled for the MPP, a venue which has produced some of Saint Lucia finest cricketers over the years.
The teams are being led by Audy Alexander, left arm Chinaman/left hand middle order batsman) and Keddy Lesporis (right hand top order batsman/right arm off spin) — two seasoned campaigners.
Due to a late start, the game was reduced to 45 overs-a-side.
Batting first, Lesporis’ team amassed 296 for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted overs. They were led by an impressive century by young West Indies Under-19 player Kimani Melius, who scored 155 from 119 deliveries. His knock included 16 fours and 9 sixes.
There were other useful contributions with the bat: right-hand middle-order batsman Craig Emmanuel scored 52, which included 3 fours and 3 sixes, while left-hand top-order batsman-Tonius Simon hit 34 and Alex Antoine made 17.
Bowling for Alexander’s team, right-arm fast bowler Jeremy Marshall picked up 3 for 36 in 6 overs, Shem Severin (right-arm seamer) 3 for 44 in 8 overs, with one wicket going to Collinus Callender (left-arm seamer).
Needing 297 for victory, Alexander’s team found the going an uphill battle as they lost wickets at crucial intervals, only to be bundled out for 92 in 25.2 overs, with right-hand top-order batsman Steven Naitram on 34 and left-hand top-order batsman Jamal James on 19, respectively.
Bowling for Lesporis team, right-hand leg-spinner Doman Edward bagged 5 for 27 in 6.2 overs, with one wicket each to Dillon John (left-arm seamer), Tonius Simon (right-arm off-spinner), Kevin Augustin (right-arm seamer) and Alex Antoine (right-arm off-spinner).
It must be noted that, Alex Antoine and Jeremy Marshall were not part of the original 22 players called-up for the preparation, but were asked to be part of the trial game to make-up the numbers, with Larry Edward still off island and some players failing to show up on the day.