Park Hill Government are Primary Schools Cricket Champions

The Park Hill Government School on Sunday, June 11, 2023, defeated the South Rivers Methodist School by 21 runs in a highly competitive encounter at the South Rivers Playing Field to walk away with the championship title.

Having won the toss, Park Hill Government decided to bat first, and at the end of the first six overs had 125 runs on the scoreboard.

The rules for the primary schools cricket competition are modified to allow for greater participation and excitement. Each inning begins with 100 runs allotted to the batting team, and five runs are deducted for the fall of each wicket, with two runs allotted to each no-ball and each wide delivered, in addition to any runs ran by the batters off these deliveries. The team also must bat the full 30 overs and every six overs a new pair of batters must take the wicket.

Shemia Nanton and Dante Cuffy opened the batting for Park Hill with Nanton facing the first ball bowled. After hitting the bowler for two consecutive boundaries through the mid-wicket region, Cuffy was bowled by the same bowler.

With runs being scored and wickets falling, the noise rose to crescendo levels as parents and other supporters packed into the ground screaming their advice to the players out in the middle.The Park Hill Government School inning ended at 196 off 30 overs, and they lost 21 wickets- under the new format.

South Rivers made a cautious start, chasing 196 off 30 overs. However they were restricted to 175 off 30 overs, losing 17 wickets in the process. They lost by 21 runs to the Park Hill Government School, the eventual 2023 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Primary Schools Cricket champions.

Coach of the Park Hill Government School Zenron Williams, told SEARCHLIGHT “It is great to see primary schools cricket reintroduced. I think over the years the standard of cricket has dropped in St.Vincent (and the Grenadines). Hopefully reintroducing primary schools cricket may revive that, so we will see better cricket in the secondary school system as well.”

The coach of the South Rivers Methodist School Kadir Nedd, had similar sentiments adding, “I see in the near future that Cricket in St.Vincent and the Grenadines … the standard will lift with the reintroduction of primary school cricket.”

Primary Schools Cricket was returned to the curriculum in 2023 after a hiatus of about two decades.

Minister of Sports Frederick Stephenson, who was on hand to witness the finals, praised the competitive spirit of the players and the quality of cricket played by the third place team, the Owia Government School.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, though, who also witnessed the run chase, maintained a neutral position as both finalists are from his constituency. He, however made a personal cash donation to the top three finishers.The Owia Government School in third place received $300.00; the South Rivers Methodist School the losing finalist received $500.00; and the Park Hill Government School the champions were the recipients of $750.00.

After the conclusion of the match, the following awards were presented: Best bowler- Terique Pollard of Owia Government School.

Best wicket keeper- Amallie Lavia of Owia Government School.

Best Female player- Onesia Moore of South Rivers Methodist School.

MVP of the finals- Nic-Quan Johnson of Park Hill Government School.

Best all rounder- Nic-Quan Johnson of Park Hill Government School.

Best batsman- J’Shorn Johnney of South Rivers Methodist School.