On the evening of May 12, the Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds played host to a do-or-die knockout clash in the Saint Lucia Premier League T20, where Choiseul Craft Masters and Micoud Eagles fought tooth and nail for a continued shot at the tournament title. What unfolded was a contest full of unexpected twists, with the Craft Masters ultimately claiming a hard-fought five-wicket victory to advance to the next qualifying round, despite costly fielding errors that nearly handed the game to their opponents.
Micoud Eagles, batting first, got off to a disastrous start. The Craft Masters’ opening bowling attack struck immediately, removing opener Dominic Auguste for a golden duck. Wickets continued to fall on a regular basis through the first 10 overs, leaving the Eagles reeling at 71 runs for the loss of four wickets. It was at this point that the game’s most dramatic turn unfolded.
Middle-order batters Murlan Sammy and Rohan Lesmond stepped to the crease, and the Craft Masters’ bowling unit created multiple clear chances to send both batters packing early. However, uncharacteristic lapses in the outfield let the Eagles off the hook: Choiseul dropped a total of seven catches during the pair’s innings, gifting them extended time at the wicket to build a formidable partnership. Sammy capitalized on his lucky escape, compiling a shaky but impactful 55 runs from 47 deliveries, while Lesmond chipped in with a valuable 39 runs. By the end of their 20 overs, Micoud Eagles had posted a surprising total of 164 runs, a score that looked far out of reach just a few overs earlier. For the Craft Masters, bowlers Bronté Bess and Shawnil Edward delivered consistent performances despite the fielding lapses, claiming two wickets apiece for 28 and 19 runs respectively.
Chasing 165 runs for victory, the Craft Masters got off to a blistering start in their run chase. The opening pair raced to 48 runs inside the first four overs before losing Jason Simon, the first wicket of the innings. Simon’s opening partner Trevon James, an overseas import, held his ground through the rest of the innings to anchor the chase, eventually earning the Man of the Match award for his match-winning knock. James remained unbeaten on a destructive 75 runs from just 42 deliveries, hitting five fours and five towering sixes to guide his side across the finish line. The win secured the Craft Masters a spot in Qualifier 2, which will be held at the same venue this coming Sunday, sending the large contingent of traveling orange-clad Choiseul fans into wild celebrations.
In his post-match press interaction, Kurstan Jules, captain of the victorious Craft Masters, highlighted his side’s ability to stay resilient despite the self-inflicted pressure from costly fielding mistakes. He also paid tribute to the unwavering support of his team’s fanbase, who turned out in large numbers for the knockout clash.
“Dropping seven catches definitely put us under a lot of unnecessary pressure,” Jules noted. “Even with that, we still managed to restrict them to only 164, which speaks volumes about the quality of our bowling attack. I have to give a lot of credit to our bowlers for staying focused, and our batters for stepping up and closing out the win for us.”
Speaking about the team’s fan support, Jules added: “Choiseul is just on the other side of the island, but our fans still turn out in huge numbers to support us. Here in Gros Islet, we had more supporters here than any other team, and that just shows how committed they are to this side. Every win we get is for them.”
The Craft Masters will now wait for the result of Qualifier 1, scheduled to take place on Friday evening, to learn the identity of their next opponent. The upcoming Qualifier 2 acts as a de facto semi-final, with the winner earning a place in this year’s Saint Lucia Premier League T20 final.