Grenada takes Windwards Senior Cricket title

Grenada will be looking to add the knock out title of the Windward Islands senior cricket title to make a clean sweep of the 2007 championships.

The 2006 winners completed the league title last Wednesday, when they recorded an eight-wicket win over St. Lucia over two days at the Sion Hill Playing Field.{{more}}

Asked to make 40 to win and assure them of retention of the title, Grenada lost two wickets in the process of reaching the target. West Indies opener Devon Smith shepherded his team to victory with 22 not out.

An outright win was always in the making when Grenada dismissed the St. Lucians for 101, as eighteen wickets tumbled on the opening day for just 231 runs. Johnson Charles made 37. Camilus Alexander bagged 4 for 18, and Dennis George, 2 for 22. In reply, Grenada made 150. Garvin Roberts continued his rich vein of form with a patient 45. Andre Fletcher made 25. Gary Mathurin took 4 for 44 and Cyril Charles 4 for 40.

But on the second day, which turned out to be the final day, St. Lucia crashed to 80 all out. Darren Sammy and Ked Cadasse both made 25, as George followed up his first innings exploits with 3 for 15, and Nellon Pascal 3 for 25.

Grenada’s chances of repeating their lien were enhanced when they were let off the hook by the home team last Sunday.

The Vincentians are almost certain to dock in second. At press time, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had a stranglehold on their encounter against Dominica.

Establishing a lead of 161 on first innings, Dominica was 157 for 6, still four runs in arrears at the close of play on Wednesday. In that total, Ezekiel Francis had contributed 38, Martin Matthews, 27, and Ray Casimir was 29 not out.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines made 297, in reply to Dominica’s first innings of 136.

Salvan Browne, 60, Hyron Shallow, 57, Deighton Butler, 51 not out, Lynden James, 39, and Kenroy Peters, 27, were the main contributors.

Dominica on day one put up little resistance. In their total of 136, Kevin James made 33 and Shane Shillingford 31. They were blasted out by the left arm duo of Butler and Peters.

Butler bagged 6 for 31 and Peters 4 for 46.

The knock out segment will begin Saturday, with Grenada meeting St. Lucia at Arnos Vale and St. Vincent and the Grenadines against Dominica at Sion Hill. The winners will meet at Arnos Vale to determine the knock out winner, with the two losers battling out at Sion Hill the same day.

The Windwards team to this year’s KFC Cup later this month will be named at the end of the championship.(RT)