SVG tops in Windwards cricket

St. Vincent and the Grenadines did not only finish top of the 2007 Windwards Under-19 cricket competition, but secured the most picks on the Windwards team to this year’s TCL Group of Companies West Indies tournament.

When the team heads for St. Kitts later this month, six Vincentians will be among the 14 member squad.{{more}}

Lauron Francois, who retains the captaincy, Joey Welcome, Wayne Harper, Dellorn Johnson, Donwell Hector and Dawnley Grant are the six selectees.

Dalton Polius, Vaughn Polius, Audie Alexander and Johnson Charles are the St.Lucians in the squad announced last Saturday night following the completion of the competition held in there.

Grenadians Micha Narine and Lendon Lawrence and Dominicans Alton Audain and Joel Maingot complete the squad.

The reserves named are Leron Celestine and Kurt Braithwaite of Grenada, Grayson Pacquette of Dominica and St. Lucian Kelly Lesporis.

However no place was found even in the reserve for Vincentian leg spinning all rounder Keiron Cottoy. The selection panel of Raphael Croney of Grenada and St. Lucians Keith Charlery and Charles Alfred was not impressed with Cottoy’s performance despite his call up to a West Indies provisional team at the end of last year’s regional tournament in Guyana.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines ended the competition with 32 points after an outright win over Dominica and first innings points over the host St. Lucia and Grenada. The Vincentians made their successful claim to the title when they secured eight points against Grenada last Saturday at Gros Islet.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the back Atticus Browne’s 66, Hector 61 and Harper 56 erased Grenada’s total of 260 to score 283.

Celestine 6 for 80 and Davis Charles 3 for 108 were the stand out bowlers for Grenada, with Grant 5 for 51 and Hector 3 for 35 the success stories for the Vincentians.

The Grenadians’ first innings was centered around Lawrence’s knock of 134, which included 14 fours and 7 sixes and Demron Daniel’s 44. Grenada closed their second innings on 211 for 9, with Rudolph Paul 68 not out. Grant, voted the competition’s Most Valuable Player pushed his tally of wickets to 22 with figures of 4 for 44, Johnson 2 for 55 and Cottoy 2 for 69.

St.Vincent and the Grenadines were 120 for 7 in a rear guard action when played ended, needing 189 for victory. Lex Bute was 54 not out .Hector earlier hit 35. Braithwaite and Narine had two wickets apiece.

Grenada like Dominica finished on 20 points. Dominica gained four of these points losing to the host on first innings at Beausejour. Dominica were dismissed for 137. Pacquette topped their batting with 50, as Audie Alexander 4 for 38 and Vaughn Polius 3 for 14, led the home team’s bowling.

St. Lucia responded with 320. Charles struck 155 not out, Lesporis 47 and Dennis Louis 33. Audain had 3 for 47. Dominica fared better second time around and were 242 for 5 when play ended. Oscar George was 97 not out, Junior Xavier 48 and Maingot 40.

Marlon O’Brien took 2 for 36.

With the competition acting as a precursor to the regional tournament, it’s the turn of coach Raymond Duncan of Grenada and St.Lucian manager Shawn Edwards to use their skills to make the Windwards into a fighting unit for this month’s outing in St.Kitts and Nevis.