CLOSE to twenty two teams are expected to compete in the 2019 Massy United Insurance Secondary Schools Cricket Tournament scheduled to bowl off on Thursday 14th February, (Valentine’s Day). This year marks the 34th edition of the tournament.
Officials from the sponsoring company and organisers at the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports met Monday 28th January to iron out logistics of the tournament that sees Entrepot Secondary and Sir Arthur Lewis Community College as joint defending champions for 2018.
According to Ryan O’Brian Information Assistant in the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, teams will be placed into four groups; six venues have been identified for the playing of matches that’s expected to run for a three week span barring any unforeseen circumstances. (Weather wise)
These venues are the Mindoo Philip Park, Gros-Islet playing field, La Ressource playing field (Dennery), Piaye playing field, the Philip Marcellin Ground and the Wenn playing field in Mon Repos.
Four matches will be played daily and several teams are expected to have members of Saint Lucia’s successful Windward Islands Under-15 team among their ranks.
Meanwhile, if you missed last year’s final, a heavy shower into Sir Arthur’s chase left the outfield unplayable; particularly at the bowlers’ run ups as the defending champions chased a modest 92 for victory.
Entrepot Secondary won the toss, decided to bat and struggled to an eventual score of 91 all out off 26.1 overs. Thanks mainly to a brave middle order knock of bold resistance by left handed batsman Craig Elisee who struck a face saving 32. Entrepot, at one stage, were reeling on 35 for five.
Doing the early damage was Man of the Match Dudley Charles, who had impressive figures of 5 for 27 in six overs. He was ably supported by Rahym Joseph, who claimed 2 for 15 runs in eight overs.
In reply, Sir Arthur Lewis raced to 68 for one off 8.3 overs, Captain Dane Edward who scored a whirlwind 45. His team’s innings slowed after his dismissal and after the heavy showers came, his side still needed 24 runs to pull off back to back titles.