The second annual Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Inter District Under-19 50 Overs Cricket Tournament in collaboration with platinum sponsors Sandals Saint Lucia bowls off at six venues around the island. The tournament is sponsored to the tune of EC$30,000.
The tournament which was launched at Sandals Halycon last week will see 18 preliminary round matches over three weekends and will be followed by the quarterfinal on April 28th, semifinals and finals on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May.
A number of Saint Lucia’s Under-15 and Under-19 cricketers fresh from the Massy United Insurance Schools Tournament which ended last week Friday (5th April) will be in action for their respective districts.
Starting things off is defending champions Gros Islet; they will start their campaign at home against Babonneau at the Gros Playing Field.
Anse la Raye and South Castries will travel to the Mindoo Phillip Park for their encounter; likewise Dennery, who play Mon Repos at the Mon Repos Playing Field.
Micoud and Vieux Fort North face each other at the Phillip Marcellin Ground; while Vieux Fort South and Choiseul play at the Piaye Playing Field.
There is still no word on the Soufriere versus Laborie clash which was scheduled for the Mini Stadium in Soufriere as that facility is unavailable; it is most likely that the two teams will meet at the Laborie Playing Field once the playing surface is conducive for play.
All matches are scheduled to bowl off from 10.00 a.m.
Sandals Regional Public Relations Manager, Sunil Ramdeen, during the press launch said, “We want to encourage the players and in doing that we want to encourage the support as well and one of the things we would have learnt over the last few months is, good cricket and success bring support with it.”
In terms of Pitch preparation 1st Vice President of the SLNCA, Shaun Alcindor said, “The grounds are always left to the communities; there are a number of individuals at the different grounds that SLNCA always pays to prepare the grounds so matches should start on time.”
“Promotion wise, the SLNCA will be working closely with Judy Deterville and Sunil Ramdeen from Sandals Saint Lucia and definitely for the semifinal and finals the SLNCA will do some live streaming and that is why it is so important to host the semis and finals at the DSCG,” explained Alcindor. He went on to say, “For the first time the SLNCA will be instituting a captain’s report where the captains along with the umpires must submit a report to the SLNCA after each game.”
Another area the SLNCA will be monitoring closely throughout the tournament is the level of respect for the officials. According to Alcindor, they will be working with their youth players to demonstrate greater respect and better discipline in order for them to play in true spirit of the game.
For the first time after the finals which is slated for Sunday 5th May at the DSCG, a Sandals All Stars team will be named and hopefully the players will get the chance to play the Massy United Insurance Secondary Schools Under-19 Champions, St. Mary’s College.
