Gros Islet Cricket Club has capped off a remarkable sporting year by securing consecutive victories in the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Two-Day Tournament. The northerners claimed a decisive seven-wicket win against Central Castries in the championship finale held at Mindoo Phillip Park on December 28, 2025.
The victory was orchestrated through exceptional individual performances that highlighted both batting prowess and bowling excellence. Young pace sensation Bjorn Fanis, a 17-year-old right-arm prodigy from Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School, delivered a career-best bowling performance of 5-22 during the first innings. His devastating spell dismantled Central Castries’ batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 136 runs.
Gros Islet’s response was equally impressive, with wicketkeeper-batsman Noelle Leo showcasing his class with a magnificent century. The left-handed Windward Islands player smashed a fluent 130 from just 63 deliveries, featuring nine boundaries and eleven sixes. His dominant performance propelled Gros Islet to 289, establishing a substantial first-innings lead of 153 runs.
Despite a stronger second-innings showing from Central Castries, who posted 304 runs, off-spinner Lee John emerged as the bowling hero with lifetime best figures of 8-85 from 19.1 overs. His precision bowling tore through the opposition’s batting order, limiting their competitive advantage.
The chase for 152 runs became a formality as former West Indies Under-19 captain Kimani Melius unleashed a blistering 98 from just 41 balls, including eleven sixes and four boundaries. Though falling just short of his century, Melius’ explosive partnership with Leo ensured Gros Islet reached their target in only 15 overs, finishing at 152-3.
This championship victory completes an extraordinary treble for Gros Islet, who earlier in the year claimed the 2024-2025 two-day competition, shared the Sandals Under-19 trophy with Central Castries, and triumphed in the National Lotteries Authority Saint Lucia Premier League.