The Windward Islands Under-19 cricketers had one of their proudest moments last Monday in St. Lucia when they lifted the 2010 TCL Group of Companies Challenge title.{{more}}

It was the second time that the four-island grouping was doing so, having achieved that feat in 2001.

And, Chief Executive Officer of the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control (WICBC), Vincentian Lennox John, told SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday: “I am very, very happy for the success of the team.”

John said the team has been together for some time, since at the Under-15 level, which showed the power of continuity.

Several members of the current crop were part of the victorious Windwards team that lifted the regional Under-15 title in 2007.

“Also, many of these players were part of a Digicel clinic here held a few years ago, in which our own Atticus Browne was singled out by the legendary Sir Garfield Sobers as having exceptional talent,” John, also a former President of the WICBC, said.

The CEO also thought that the sponsorship of the four power companies: Domlec, Lucilec, Grenlec and Vinlec was a good financial injection in team preparation.

“Thanks to the sponsorship from the power companies, we were able to first have a successful Windwards Under-19 tournament here, and this helped to have a ten-day training camp prior to the tournament, which helped in bonding of the players,” John, a former President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Association, stated.

Considered the minnows of regional Cricket, the Windwards had two outright wins, won two matches on first innings and lost one, also on first innings.

Following their loss on first innings, the Windwards rebounded to dismiss the Leewards for 118 in their second.

The demise of the Leewards was orchestrated by the bowling of Rudolph Paul, 4 for 45, Bronte Bess, 3 for 15, and Kaveem Hodge, 2 for 39.

Asked to make 135 to win, the Windwards, piloted by 69 not out from their talisman Kaveem Hodge, the Windwards reached 137 for 3, to head the standings with 39 points.

Earlier in the piece, the Leewards posted 226, led by Jamal Fernandes who scored 55; Hayden Walsh Jr. hit 36 and Damien Williams, 32. Hodge bagged 5 for 60 and Levaughn Lewis, 2 for 59.

The Windwards replied with 210. Captain Audy Alexander struck 66, Kurt Edward hit 44 not out and Atticus Browne, 33. Bowling for the Leewards, Damien Williams snared 4 for 57 and Jamal Fernandes 2 for 1.

The win pushed the Windwards to 39 points. Trinidad and Tobago, who comprehensively beat Guyana by 133 runs, docked in second with 30 points.

Last year’s winners, Jamaica, tied with Barbados on 27, after the Barbadians eeked out first innings points from them. Guyana was fifth with 18 points and the Leewards finished at the bottom on 10 points.

The One Day format was set to begin yesterday, Thursday, with the Windwards versus Barbados at Dennery; Leewards against Guyana at Gros Islet and Jamaica against Trinidad and Tobago at Beausejour. (RT)