IT’ll be a must-win situation in the final round of preliminary matches for three of the four teams participating in the 2018 Windward Islands Senior Men’s 50 over tournament, when the two matches bowls off today from 10.00a.m.
Following their abandoned match on Saturday versus Saint Lucia at the Mindoo Phillip Park due to rain and a 99-runs win over Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on Sunday, the Dominicans will play Grenada at the Gros Islet playing field.
Meanwhile, at the La Ressource playing field, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines take on hosts Saint Lucia.
Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and host Saint Lucia each have one win under their belts and the final is scheduled for tomorrow at the Gros Islet playing field, while the 3rd place match is scheduled for the La Ressource playing field.
Meanwhile, Saint Lucia put their disappointment aside (of having their first match of the tournament washed out without a ball been bowled at the Mindoo Phillip Park on Saturday), while on Sunday they went on to defeat Grenada by 136 runs at the Gros Islet Playing Field.
Saint Lucia, batting first (after captain Johnson Charles won the toss in a game reduced to 38 overs a side due to a late start as the result of a shift of match venue), made 237 for 9 in their allotted overs.
Top order batsman Tarryck Gabriel made 75 which included 7 fours and 4 sixes, Kimani Melius 48, captain Johnson Charles 21, KeddyLesporis 18, Dalton Polius 17 and debutant Collinus Calender 13.
Bowling for Grenada, Ryan John picked up 2 for 47 in 8 overs.
Needing 238 for victory, Grenada was undone by an excellent spell of fast bowling by Barbados-based debutant Jeremy Marshall, who finished with figures of 4 for 16 and Kevin Augustin with 2 for 28.
Grenada was eventually dismissed for 101 in 21.4 overs with Ryan John top scoring with 22 and Andre Fletcher 20.
The other wicket-takers for Saint Lucia were Larry Edward with 2 for 26 and 1 wicket each to CollinusCalender and Dornan Edward.
Head Coach for the Saint Lucia team Alton Crafton spoke to The VOICE before press time yesterday. He said, “We just need to win to qualify for the finals on Wednesday. The win against Grenada on Sunday was fantastic and excellent team work.”
He singled-out young Kimani Melius and Taryck Gabriel as “Two extremely young talented batsmen with a bright future ahead. Melius looks like he belongs to the game.”
In terms of Jeremy Marshall a young fast bowler, Crafton said he had “a really good spell of seam bowling; he is an excellent find.”
In the other match played at the La Ressource Playing Field in the Mabouya Valley, Dominica defeated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by 99 runs.
Dominica won the toss and batted – Dominica 279 all out in 49.2 overs; Tyrone Theophile top scoring with 84; as he was well supported by Jerlani Robinson 46 and Kavem Hodge 43.
Bowling for Dominica, Casmond Walters bagged 5 for 23 and KeronCottoy took 3 for 52.
Needing 280 for victory, the Vincentians were bowled out for 180 in 36.3 overs.
Atticus Browne top scored with 69, while Delorn Johnson and Donwell Hector chipped in with 22 and 18 respectively.
Bowling for Dominica, Karmal Hamilton picked up 2 for 31, Tyrone Theophile bagged 2 for 29 and Kevin James took 2 for 34.
