SVG Under-19 team completes the hat trick

Three cheers for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-19 cricketers. The victorious team returned home last Sunday afternoon, a smiling bunch, after, for the third consecutive year, securing the Windwards Under-19 cricket competition.{{more}}

The Vincentians completed the hat trick of titles last week Thursday in Grenada, when they beat Dominica out right. The 2006, 2007 and now the 2008 champions, was the only team to achieve an outright win in this year’s edition.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines finished on 20 points, with Dominica second on 12 points and Grenada and St. Lucia both on 10.

Set 137 to win on the final day of the two day match, the Vincentian batsmen went leather hunting and blasted 138 for 7. Opener Wayne Harper led the way with 66. Harper’s innings included 13 fours.

Batting first Dominica posted 116, with Kaveem Hodge, 42, and Oscar George made 41. Dellorn Johnson bagged 5 for 16, and Keiron Cottoy, 2 for 18.

In reply, St. Vincent and the Grenadines made 164, a lead of 48. Cottoy topscored with 56. Darrian Dumas took 6 for 27 for Dominica.

Batting a second time, Dominica was bowled out for 184, with Hodge making 84. The West Indies Under-15 selectee struck 13 fours in his innings. Junior Gervier supported with 43. Kesrick Williams had figures of 4 for 36. Cottoy bagged three more scalps to finish with sixteen wickets and Casmond Walters took two.

In the other final round match, St. Lucia grabbed first innings points from Grenada in a keenly contested affair.

Chasing 181 for victory, Grenada was precariously placed at 70 for four when play was called off.

Earlier, St. Lucia had declared at 155 for four after dismissing Grenada for 205 in their first innings.

Kade Carmichael with 48, Rudolph Paul, 43, and Kishawn Williams, 42, highlighted the hosts’ first innings, while St. Lucia off-spinner Dalton Polius grabbed 5 for 59.

St. Lucia in their first innings made 233.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines beat St. Lucia on first innings but lost to Grenada also on first innings.

Dominica had first innings win over Grenada and St. Lucia.

Coach of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines team Ortis Jack told SEARCHLIGHT soon after arriving that he was happy with the performance of his players.

“I was happy with the players; it was a total team effort; the younger players blended well with the older ones”, Jack said.

He, however, called on the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association “to put in place a comprehensive youth development plan”.

Like previous victorious national units, Jack requested that the current crop of players are kept together and provided with opportunities to travel and acquire life skills. (RT)