SVG on title hunt

Four newcomers have made the final 13-member St. Vincent and the Grenadines Under-19 cricket team to the Windwards championship to be held in St. Lucia from July 1-8.{{more}}

The four are left handed Under-15 Windwards allrounder Atticus Browne, fast bowling allrounder Casmond Walters and opening batsmen Kesrick Williams and Wayne Harper.

Harper has broken his way into the final team after being named in the reserves when the championship was held here last year.

Returning as captain is the influential left handed opener Lauron Francois who went on to lead the Windwards in last year’s regional competition.

Francois, the 2006 St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Junior and Senior Cricketer of the Year and the National Sports Council’s 2006 Junior Sportsman of the Year, is also expected to be retained as the Windwards skipper.

Also back from last year’s winning outfit are fast bowling all rounder Dawnley Grant, middle order batsmen and all rounders Donwell Hector and Keiron Cottoy.

The trio also journeyed last year to Guyana as Windwards representatives. Both Francois and Hector hit their maiden centuries at their regional outing, which was the second time for Francois but Hector’s debut season. They are expected to carry the Vincentian batting along with Lex Bute and Joey Welcome.

The spin of Cottoy, Francois, and Hector will be complemented by the off spin of Elton Joseph. Left arm seamer Dellorn Johnson leads the fast bowling attack.Omalie Lavia is the team’s wicket keeper.

The four reserves named are Jeremy Ollivierre, Tarik Mc Neil , Marvin Small and Angell Holder.

Manager of the team Ortis Jack told SEARCHLIGHT last Wednesday that he was confident that St. Vincent and the Grenadines will retain the title.

“We have a crop of guys who play in the premier division and I am confident of them doing well”, Jack said.

Roger Davis has replaced Dougal James as manager from the original management team announced earlier this month. (RT)