Saint Lucia overcame an error-strewn first innings to pick up their second consecutive victory in the 2024 Winlott Inc Windward Islands Cricket Board Under-15 Championship, handing St Vincent & the Grenadines their first loss in the process. Saint Lucia prevailed by four wickets on Monday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Despite a sloppy performance in the field, including several dropped catches and 45 extras, the hosts were able to limit the visitors to 148 all out in 38.5 overs.
The Vincentians lost their first wicket with the score on 29, right-arm pacer Harry Monzie enticing Kevon Phillips into a big swing, caught behind by Williams for 10.
Curdin Jones, another right-arm seamer, got in on the act in the 12th over, Jean-Claude Emmanuel getting Ahmar Lavia caught at square leg for nought off nine deliveries, St Vincent & the Grenadines 43-2. Delroy Tittle retired hurt, after contributing a laboured 14 from 58 balls, with the score 64-2.
Trevern Edward took the third wicket with the score on 101, the leg spinner getting Jorden Charles, caught in the deep for 19 off 3 balls. Edward struck again with the last ball of the 35th over, Eddon Baptiste gone for six off 18 balls, trapped leg before wicket with the score on 136.
Tittle returned to the crease to join Alexander Jordan, with the Vincentians threatening to put on a score of close to 200. But it was Jordan’s turn to return to the pavilion, bowled by pacer Samuel Jean for a fine 43 from 9 balls with five fours and a six.
At the other end, Tittle faced just one delivery in his return, Daniel Lorde doing him in with his right-arm spin. In the same over, Lorde’s first, he drew Julian Stoddard out of his crease, Williams completing the stumping for no addition to the score.
Jean made it 143-8, Lee-J Phillips caught behind Williams from the bowling of Jean. Lorde got his third wicket in his second over, Juarez Baptiste caught for two. And Jean finished things off in his third over.
Three wickets each for Lorde and Jean, plus three dismissals for Williams, appeared to have put the 2022 champions in a strong position.
The Saint Lucia innings got off to an inauspicious start in the hunt for 149, though, Lorde out for two. But a tremendous innings from Kyle Stephen took the home team comfortably over the line.
In partnership with Edward, Stephen added an even 50 for the second wicket. When Edward went for 11, Stephen was on 33.
Stephen, now partnered by Williams, brought up his 50 with a massive six off the bowling of Jorden Charles, facing his 50th delivery. Then the pugnacious right-hander brought up the hundred for Saint Lucia with his seventh four, smacked over deep backward square.
Charles got his revenge in the next over, bowling Stephen for 56 from 55 balls, but with the score 114-3, and Williams at the crease with vice-captain Jean Claude Emmanuel, the Saint Lucians seemed well set in the hunt for a second victory.
Emmanuel left without troubling the scorer. But the captain batted on, eventually hitting the winning run, his 27th, in the 32nd over. Saint Lucia might have asked for more from some of their batsmen, but the solid platform laid by Stephen was sufficient to get a second straight win, and to go top of the table.
Tuesday will be a rest day, and the hosts will clash with the defending champions, the Commonwealth of Dominica, on Wednesday.
