St. Lucia remained unbeaten in the 2023 Winlott Inc Windward Islands Under-19 50-overs Tournament when they registered a 63-run victory over St. Vincent & The Grenadines at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground yesterday.
As a result of the tournament’s format, both teams with wins in their two previous matches became automatic qualifiers for the Grant Final, and yesterday’s encounter was just a dress rehearsal for the title match on Friday.
After St. Lucia chose to bat on winning the toss, good bowling, especially from left-arm seamer, Devonte McDowall 3 for 45, Kirtney Franklyn 2 for 53, and skipper Luke Wilson, kept the innings in check. St. Lucia found it difficult to break away from the shackles and were 9 for 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. St. Lucia’s total was padded with 64 Extras that included 56 Wides.
Chasing 241 for victory, St. Vincent & The Grenadines openers, Ian-j Gonsalves (16) and Ethan Gibson (17) had a promising start, but by the half-way stage five wickets were down for 109 runs. 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 skipper Luke Wilson chipped in with 21.
For St. Lucia, right-arm off-spinner Royce Paul was the most successful bowler with 3 for 25, while Kevin Gassie, Shawnil Edward and Aaron Joseph picked up two wickets each.
Final Scores:
St. Lucia Under-19s 240 for 9 in 50 overs
St. Vincent & The Grenadines 177 all out in 44.1 overs
In the other game between Dominica and Grenada at the Gros Islet Playing Field, Dominica suffered the ultimate humiliation of being routed for the lowest total of a team being all out in the tournament.
Grenada won the toss and sent in Dominica who were cleared up for just 48 runs in 18.2 overs. Only one player – Yawani Regis with 19 from 24 balls with two fours and one six – managed to get into double figures, other than Extras which contributed 10.
Left-arm spinner, Kirt Murray ended with astonishing figures of 4 wickets for 4 runs from his 5.2 overs which contained 29 dot balls. The other successful bowlers were Kirsten Murray 2 for 24, Devin Tyson 2 for 8 from 4 overs, Kelshon Andrew and Deshonte Thomas took a wicket apiece.
Grenada needed just 7.5 overs as they zoomed to victory by nine wickets.
Jerel Jeremiah and skipper Divonie Joseph were the not out batters on 18 and 11 respectively.
Final Scores:
Dominica Under-19s 48 all out in 18.2 overs
Grenada Under-19s 49 for 1 in 7.5 overs
