Team Saint Lucia Secures W/Wards Under-19 50-Overs Championship Title

[L-R] Khan Elcock, Royce Paul & Tarrique Edward

Saint Lucia recorded an emphatic victory over St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) to secure the 2023 Winlott Inc. Windward Islands Under-19 50-overs Championship title, in the finals at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground [DSCG], Friday.

Team Saint Lucia battled out with the ‘Vincies’ as the tournament closed out , with the home team registering their second consecutive victory over their southerly sub-regional neighbours.

On Friday, Saint Lucia batted first and scored 203 all out (45.4overs); with Bolton Sayers holding the innings together with a well-struck half-century of 71. He was the ninth wicket down after adding some value runs with some lower order batters.

Kirtney Franklin grabbed a ‘five-fer’ for SVG to leave the home team short of batting out the allotted overs.

However, Team 758 bounced back marvellously to have SVG reeling with the loss of five (5) wickets within the first five overs- and SVG were eventually bowled out for a meagre 74 all out (27.1overs)

Some lower order ‘Vincie’ batters lengthened the agony with their team staring at defeat, with L Mc. Dowal 16 and K Grant 14, the top scores.

Team Saint Lucia’s seamers got into the act early with the likes of Shawnil Edward 2/13 (3), Kevin Gassie 2/16 (4), Sky Lafeuiile 1/6 (4) and Aaron Joseph 1/6 (4), while the spinners Royce Paul 2/11 (6.1) and skipper Tarrique Edward 1/16 (6) helped to complete the rout.

Team Saint Lucia triumphed with a 129 run victory.

At the conclusion of the preliminary round matches in the, competition, Saint Lucia remained unbeaten as they registered a 63-run victory over SVG, at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground [DSCG], Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Saint Lucia chose to bat first but good bowling, especially from left-arm seamer Devonte McDowall 3 / 45, Kirtney Franklyn 2 / 53 and skipper Luke Wilson kept the innings in check. Saint Lucia found it difficult to break away from the shackles and were 9 / 174 before No.8 Shawnil Edward 40 and No.11 Aaron Joseph 16 featured in an unbroken stand that yielded 66 runs from 54 deliveries.

Earlier in the innings, Noel Leo 18, Jonathan Daniel 30, Bolton Sayers 21, Tarrique Edward 19, and Royce Paul 23 – all had good starts but failed to carry on to big scores. Saint Lucia’s total was padded with 64 Extras that included 56 Wides.

Chasing 241 for victory, SVG openers, Ian-j Gonsalves (16) and Ethan Gibson (17) had a promising start, but by the half-way stage , the ‘Vincies’ were in trouble at 5/109. The batters found runs difficult to come by as the innings folded for 177 in the 45th over. Joe Williams top-scored with 32, while Wilson chipped in with 21.

For Saint Lucia, right-arm off-spinner Royce Paul was the most successful bowler with 3 /25, while Kevin Gassie, Shawnil Edward and Aaron Joseph picked up two wickets each.