The final lineup for the 6th edition of the Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) is now confirmed, following a high-scoring dramatic second qualifier clash held on Sunday at the iconic Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds. In the latest installment of the league’s storied West Coast rivalry, the Choiseul Craft Masters secured a convincing 62-run victory over the Soufriere Titans to punch their ticket to the championship decider.
The path to this critical qualifier for both sides had been carved out in earlier knockout fixtures. Fresh off an energetic win over Micoud Eagles in the eliminator match just three days prior, the Craft Masters—known affectionately to their fans as the Men In Orange—carried that momentum into Sunday’s do-or-die clash. For the Soufriere Titans, a narrow defeat to the undefeated City Blasters in the first qualifier left them with one final shot at the final, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle on the same Saint Lucian ground.
Winning the toss, Choiseul Craft Masters elected to bat first, and their opening pair immediately turned the matchup on its head. Opener Jason Simon and debutant Alick Athanaze put together a blistering 96-run opening partnership that set the tone for a record-breaking innings. Simon departed after a rapid 57 runs off just 25 deliveries, but Athanaze refused to let the scoring slow, putting on a clinic of power hitting that wowed the on-site crowd.
Making his first ever appearance in SPL competition, Athanaze finished with a stunning 138 runs off only 57 balls, hammering 13 maximum sixes and 10 fours along the way. With valuable contributions of 20 or more runs from three other lower-order batters, the Craft Masters posted an all-time SPL record total of 290 runs, a mark that put immense pressure on the Soufriere batting lineup from the first over.
Chasing the second-highest run target in the league’s history, the Titans got off to a disastrous start. Most of their top-order batters fell while attempting to match Choiseul’s explosive run rate, with seamer Kevin Sinclar picking up key early wickets that left the side reeling at 98 for six wickets after just 8.2 overs. Young left-arm spinner Jeanille Williams claimed four key wickets for the Craft Masters, though he conceded 52 runs in a high-scoring outing.
A late-order fightback led by number seven batsman Mateo Boulogne gave Soufriere fans a glimmer of hope. Boulogne smashed an attacking 80 runs off 41 deliveries, combining with Kevin Gassie—who remained unbeaten on 45 off 30 balls—to add 101 runs for the seventh wicket. Despite the valiant late rally, the Titans ran out of overs, finishing 62 runs short of the required target. Bowler Shawnil Edward turned in a standout performance for Choiseul, claiming two wickets for just 33 runs to cap the win.
Following the match, the player of the match Athanaze spoke to reporters about his record-breaking debut, crediting the playing conditions and crowd energy for his performance. “To be honest, it wasn’t much of an acclimatisation for me. I came in yesterday and had to play today. The vibe is good, the competition is good, and the wicket is good as well. So, you know, it’s a good place to play cricket,” he said.
With the win locked in, the Choiseul Craft Masters now advance to the SPL 6 grand final, where they will face the tournament’s only undefeated side, City Blasters, for the league title and regional bragging rights.