DEFENDING champions South Castries Lionesses (SCL) will take on Gros Islet women in the final of the 8th edition of the Acynta Auguste 50 over women’s tournament this Saturday at the Mindoo Phillip Park (MPP).
The two teams made it to the final with wins over Choiseul and the Saint Lucia National Cricket Development Teams respectively. The tournament is organized by the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association (SLNCA).
Making the final interesting was that in the preliminary round of the tournament, Gros Islet defeated the defending champions by 24 runs at the MPP on Saturday 24th April.
Scores: Gros Islet, 193 for the loss of five wickets, South Castries in reply, 169 all out in 32.2 overs.
In SCL last match played at the Piaye playing field, they extracted revenge for their male counterparts defeating Choiseul Ladies by 73 runs.
Asked to bat first, the Lionesses posted 177 in 33 overs. Their total was built around contributions from Captain Ashlene Edward 42 and former West Indies Captain Verena Felecien 33.
Bowling for Choiseul, Roylin Cooper picked up 3 for 20, Naralie Cooper bagged 3 for 27 and Majonie Hunte 2 for 37.
Needing 178 runs in their allotment of 40 overs, Choiseul never looked like challenging the target after captain Roylin Cooper 14, was back in the dugout early, brilliantly caught and bowled by youth player Chole Elibox.
Choiseul’s batting was undermined by the experienced Verena Felecien who picked up 2 for 21, Chloe Elibox 2 for 17 and Nerissa Crafton 1 for 27, as they folded for 104 in 27 overs. National player Shania Cooper 30 and Naralie Cooper 19 were the main contributors with the bat.
President for the South Castries Cricket Association (SCCA) Brian Calixte spoke to this reporter about this weekend upcoming encounter against Gros Islet.
“The ladies have been showing improvement since their first match. They have had to cope with the absence of Zaida James who is at the West Indies camp and Philippa Eudovic who is injured. However, the experience of captain Ashlene Edward, Verena Felecien and Nerissa Crafton will be crucial to the upcoming final,” Calixte said.
“The ever-improving Chloe Elibox, Sheena Mark and Princess Olliver will further add to the team’s growing confidence.” he added.
Meanwhile, in Gros Islet last match to advance to the final, they totally outplayed the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Development Team as they recorded a massive 151 run victory over their opponents.
The Gros Islet females winning the toss and batting first made 208 all out in 27.3 overs with Windward Island player, captain Malika Edward top scoring with a brilliant half century.
Malika Edward the stand in captain for the Gros Islet team due to the absence of Qiana Joseph currently in Antigua attending a Cricket West Indies (CWI) High Performance Training Camp (HPTC), made a well-played 83 in only 61 balls which included 11 fours and 1 six. Other useful contributions came from Skyy Smith with 24 and Jewel Nelson 11.
Bowling for the SLNCA Development Team, Amy Julien took 4 for 45 in 6.3 overs, Nesha Alexander picked up 4 for 72 in 9 overs and 1 wicket to Natalia Phillip.
In reply, the SLNCA Development Team was literally “bowled out” for 57 in 17.1 overs. (The mode of dismissal for all ten wickets was clean bowled).
Merkala Herman with 10 was the only batter to reach double figures.
Fourteen-year-old Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School student, left arm seamer Selena Ross took a career best 6 for 24 in 6 overs. She was Gros Islet’s most outstanding bowler.
The other wicket takers were Malika Edward with 2 for 9 in 3 overs and Skyy Smith with 2 for 10 in 3.1 overs.
The player of the match was Malika Edward of Gros Islet.
Coach for the Gros Islet team Alton Crafton also spoke to this reporter about this weekend matchup.
“My youthful team is looking forward to wining the tournament. We will take nothing for granted and will not be complacent having won against them in the preliminary round match,” he said.
The Squads:
Gros Islet will select their playing eleven from – Malika Edward (captain), Cian Felix, Niesha Cherry, Skyy Smith, Suenelli Dorius, Heidi Sandiford, Selena Ross, Makada Dubois, Afra Forde, Jewel Nelson, Swayline Williams, Joyann Preville, Reana Sexius and Qiana Joseph (off island).
South Castries Lionesses, will select their final eleven from – Ashlene Edward (captain), Nerissa Crafton (vice-captain); Leona Vitalis – Baker; Chloe Elibox; Teaddie Crawford; Krishna Joseph; Elisha James; Castelle Vitalis; Amia Polius; Cherry George; Cornilia Edmund; Sheena St.Mark, Mercrina Nelson, Verena Felicien, Zaida James (off island), and Philippa Thomas – Eudovic (injured).
