The Phillip Marcellin Grounds in Vieux Fort will serve as the battleground for the historic conclusion of the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association’s inaugural Under-13 tournament this Saturday, December 6. Sponsored by Laborie Credit Union, the championship match between Babonneau and Soufrière promises to showcase emerging cricketing talent at 2 p.m.
Last weekend’s semifinals unfolded under challenging weather conditions with overcast skies and strong winds. In the first semifinal at Soufrière Stadium, Babonneau secured their place in the finals through a commanding performance. After winning the toss, captain Jovonnie Dorville elected to field first, restricting Desruisseaux to a modest 69-7 from their allotted 15 overs. Liam Anderson emerged as the standout batsman for Desruisseaux with 22 runs, while Babonneau’s bowling attack demonstrated remarkable discipline with Jahim Mathurin and Dorville each claiming two wickets, supported by tight spells from Michael Jones, Vincy Cadasse, and Kerlani Joseph.
Babonneau’s response was equally impressive as they comfortably chased down the target, finishing at 71-2. Vice-captain Vincy Cadasse redeemed himself from recent subpar performances with an unbeaten half-century that anchored the successful run chase.
The second semifinal witnessed Soufrière’s dominant bowling display against Dennery. The home team’s disciplined attack dismantled Dennery’s batting lineup, bowling them out for a mere 36 runs. Kaiden Charlery emerged as the bowling sensation with impressive figures of 3-7, effectively containing Dennery’s batters throughout the innings.
Despite facing early challenges in their run chase and losing wickets at regular intervals, Soufrière demonstrated resilience by surpassing Dennery’s total in the eighth over with seven wickets down. Eric Flavien complemented Charlery’s performance with an outstanding bowling effort of 4-13.
Tournament organizers and cricket enthusiasts have praised the competition for exceeding its developmental objectives. The initiative has successfully revived cricket in regions where the sport had previously remained dormant, providing a significant boost to grassroots programs across the island. SLNCA president Wayne Auguste’s vision, coupled with Laborie Credit Union’s sponsorship, has created a sustainable platform for youth cricket development.
Choiseul coach and umpire Johann Williams emphasized the tournament’s importance: “We haven’t had cricket at this level since my childhood. The progression from these young players has been remarkable, and while there’s room for improvement, their continuous development bodes well for Saint Lucian cricket’s future.”
Although Laborie’s team didn’t advance beyond the initial knockout round, their unbeaten preliminary record has ignited renewed interest in the community. Makeva Anthony, representing the Laborie program, noted: “The credit union’s support has revealed the latent interest in cricket within our community. This tournament has shown we’ve been underestimating our children’s potential.”
The championship match between Babonneau’s consistent bowling and batting depth versus Soufrière’s pressure-handling capabilities and home advantage promises an exhilarating conclusion to this groundbreaking development tournament.