Vincentian U-15 cricketers off to slow start

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Under-15 team lost their first two matches, Saturday and Sunday in Dominica in the Windward Islands Tournament.{{more}}

Facing St Lucia on Saturday, the Vincentian hopefuls went down by 69 runs.

Batting first, St Lucia posted 175 in 43 overs, with Lee Solomon stroking 81. Bowling for St Vincent and the Grenadines, O’ jay Matthews had 3 for 17 and Romando Mars – 3 for 48.

Jahiel Walters’ 31 was the brightest spark in St Vincent and the Grenadines’ response of 106 all out in 27 overs. Akegan Augustine snared 4 for 17 and Kegan Arnold – 2 for 17, bowling for St Lucia.

Although showing an improved batting performance on Sunday against Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines slipped to a 57-run defeat.

Seandell Registes hit 73 and Anthony Dunbar 71 not out, to lead Grenada to 232 for 5 from their 50 overs.

Desroy Hooper – 3 for 42 and O’jay Matthews – 2 for 33, were the most successful bowlers for St Vincent and the Grenadines, whose response stopped at 178 in 40 overs.

Walters again was the top scorer with 58 and Javid Baptiste contributed 23.

Nicoby John – 3 for 18 and Anthony Dunbar – 2 for 32, were the chief wicket takers for Grenada.

The 50 over per side tournament, which also includes host Dominica, will be played over two rounds.

St Vincent and the Grenadines in the past 10 years have been the whipping boys in the tournament; however, efforts in the past months by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association promise better results.

The association’s president, Kishore Shallow, speaking at the team’s departure last Friday at the ET Joshua airport, stated that while he did not expect the team to win the tournament, anticipated a better showing.

From this tournament, a Windwards team will be selected for the regional West Indies Tournament.(RT)