Unique Warriors brace First Division cricket title

Ruddy’s Electrical Unique Warriors claimed the National Lotteries Authority First Division cricket title, doing so on first innings over Combine Youths on the weekend at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.{{more}}

However, it will be Combine Youths who will take the plunge in next year’s Premier Division, as Unique Warriors, as other winners have done in the past, have opted to remain in the First Division.

Combine Youths will replace the demoted Triumph United.

Taking first strike, after being inserted by Combine Youths, Unique Warriors tallied 166 all out. Topping their batting was the former St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-19 player Peter Campbell, who scored 70. Campbell stroked three fours, two sixes and a five in his knock. Sylvester Vanloo chipped in with 22. Bowling for Combine Youths, Marlon Farrell bagged 5 for 43 and Nickie Antoine – 2 for 41.

Combine Youths made a valiant effort to overhaul the total, but lost wickets steadily and were dismissed for 157. Marlon Farrell followed up his five-wicket haul with a top score of 36 and Nickie Antoine contributed 25.

Medium pacer Leon Samuel snared 3 for 29 and left-arm orthodox Joseph Medford had 3 for 50.

Unique Warriors’ captain William “Bill” Edwards told SEARCHLIGHT that it was always his team’s aim to win the competition. Edwards noted that they chose not to accept the promotion, as “most of the players are over forty years old.”

He, however, left the door open for three of the four youngsters in the team to join Combine Youths, if they so desire.

Leading from in front, Edwards, a former St Vincent and the Grenadines and Windwards Under-19 batsman and senior SVG opening batsman, was not only his team’s top batsman, but his 388 runs heads up the competition’s individual tally.(RT)