National female cricket coach looks to future

Coach of the St Vincent and the Grenadines female cricket team Cleton Burnett wants his young charges to use their recent experience in Dominica for their future advancement in the sport.{{more}}

St Vincent and the Grenadines, which fielded five debutants, placed fifth in the West Indies Cricket Board’s 50-over competition – a place with which Burnett is generally contented.

“We won three matches and lost two to Jamaica and Guyana, but there were some positive things which came out from the tournament, which I am pleased with,” Burnett told SEARCHLIGHT.

“It was a learning curve, especially for the newcomers; the biggest bright spot for me was 14-year-old Japhina Joseph; she delivered herself well… She is definitely one for the future,” Burnett commented.

Joseph, who was one of the first-timers, played in three matches, took four wickets and was left not out on the two occasions on which she batted.

Burnett noted that like St Vincent and the Grenadines, the three other Windward Island outfits, Dominica, Grenada and St Lucia, all featured relatively young players.

On the downside of the Vincentians’ efforts, Burnett thumbed the poor catching of the team, as well as the inconsistency of the senior players with the bat.

Burnett counted 43 catches that were floored by the Vincentians, which he thought could have added some respectability to the totals posted by Jamaica and Guyana.

Guyana scored 192 and Jamaica – 289 for 6 from their 50 overs, as St Vincent and the Grenadines was relegated to play for the minor places.

As expected, St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Dominica and Grenada in the play-offs for the fifth to eighth places.

Coming up against the host, St Vincent and the Grenadines made 156 for 9 from their 20 overs; Samantha Lynch made 50 and Juliana Nero – 38. Joslyn Farrell was Dominica’s best bowler, taking 3 for 34.

Dominica was dismissed for 84. La Toya Providence – 3 for 12 and Stacy Ann Adams – 2 for 16 were St Vincent and the Grenadines’ most successful bowlers.

Facing Grenada in the play-off for the fifth and sixth places, Grenada was dismissed for 98 in 34.4 overs.

Shavorne Clarke took 4 for 18; Stacy Ann Adams had 2 for 23 and La Toya Providence – 2 for 18

St Vincent and the Grenadines replied with 99 for 3. Juliana Nero was 32 not out.

Adams ended with 13 wickets, second behind Grenada’s Afy Fletcher, who scalped 14 all told.

Jamaica retained the title, beating Guyana by 218 runs.

Jamaica amassed 309 for 7 from their 50 overs, then dismissed Guyana for 91.(RT)