The highly anticipated Sandals/Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Under-19 Tournament commenced with spectacular energy at Mindoo Philip Park on January 25th. This competitive event brings together eight district squads across four designated venues, promising weeks of exceptional 50-over cricket displays that highlight emerging talent and regional pride.
The inaugural match featured a compelling day/night confrontation between South Castries and Central Castries—the latter sharing honors as 2025 tournament champions—following an elaborate opening ceremony that established the championship’s elevated standards.
Adverse weather conditions necessitated a match reduction to 35 overs per side. South Castries, upon winning the toss, strategically elected to field first. Despite initial challenges with excessive extras, their bowling unit effectively contained Central Castries’ batting lineup, triggering a dramatic collapse.
Tyler Venner emerged as the sole batsman demonstrating resilience for Central Castries, delivering an impressive 49-run performance featuring five boundaries and one six, narrowly missing a deserved half-century. The team ultimately posted 118 all out, with 25 runs attributed to extras. Nathaniel Joseph spearheaded South’s bowling attack with an exceptional four-wicket haul at the cost of 29 runs.
Facing a modest target, Central Castries mounted an extraordinary bowling response that dismantled South Castries for a mere 65 runs. The victory was engineered through masterful spin bowling, with last season’s MVP Theo Edward redeeming his batting performance by capturing four wickets for 16 runs. He partnered effectively with leg-spinner Aiden Scholar, who achieved a stunning economy rate of three wickets for six runs across seven overs. Notably, 32 of South’s runs came from extras, highlighting their batting difficulties.
This emphatic victory immediately positions Central Castries at the tournament’s summit as the competition progresses through its preliminary stages.