A group of young cricketers from St Lucia’s Corinth Secondary School have returned home celebrating a landmark developmental tour of Trinidad & Tobago, where they competed against two local cricket academies and gained invaluable cross-regional match experience that will shape their growth in the sport. The tour ended with an even overall record: two wins in 50-over format play, and two losses in the shorter T20 segment of the trip, with one scheduled fixture falling to inclement weather.
The team’s first 50-over clash against AK Cricket Academy got the tour off to a dominant start. AK Cricket Academy was bowled out for just 168 runs in 37 overs, driven by standout bowling performances from Jean Claude Emmanuel, who claimed 4 wickets while conceding only 23 runs. Neil Poyotte added 2 wickets for 37 runs, and all-rounder Daniel Lorde picked up 2 wickets for 27 runs to wrap up the batting innings. Corinth chased down the required target with 18 full overs remaining, anchored by Lorde’s 53-run knock and Emmanuel’s solid 44 runs to secure a comfortable first win.
Corinth carried their 50-over momentum into the second match to claim the series against AK Cricket Academy. AK posted a stronger total of 260 runs in 45 overs this round, but Corinth’s bowling attack once again stepped up to contain the opposition. Poyotte led the attack with 4 wickets for 24 runs, Lorde took 3 wickets for 57 runs, and Ethan St Marthe claimed 3 wickets for just 29 runs to limit AK’s scoring. The Corinth batsmen delivered again, chasing down the 261-run target in 41 overs to finish at 262 for 8. Emmanuel anchored the run chase with an impressive unbeaten century of 106 runs, with supporting scores from Lorde (32), Kaleb Charles (30) and Zidane Wilson (20) sealing the victory.
A third 50-over fixture scheduled against the Aranguez Under-19 Cricket Team was ultimately canceled due to uncooperative bad weather, cutting short one planned opportunity for the young squad. Moving on to the T20 segment of the tour, Corinth faced off against the Keston Lewis Cricket Academy, where the home side claimed victory in both shortened-format matches. Despite the two losses, Corinth’s bowlers turned in strong performances: St Marthe claimed 3 wickets for 34 runs, Charles took 3 wickets for just 21 runs, and Poyotte finished with 2 wickets for 19 runs against the experienced local side.
Even with the mixed win-loss record, head coach Kwame Joseph framed the entire tour as a resounding success for the developing program, emphasizing that the core goal of the trip was not just winning matches, but giving young players exposure to high-level regional cricket. Speaking to local outlet St Lucia Times, Joseph highlighted the unique growth opportunities the tour provided. “It was a very exciting and informative trip for the players. They were exposed to different conditions, different pitches, and I think they really enjoyed it,” he said.
Joseph added that competing against Trinidadian players gave his squad critical insight into refining their approach to the longer 50-over format, helping them build the temperament and strategic thinking needed to construct consistent innings. The coach also credited the widespread community support that made the tour possible, noting that the parent committee led multiple fundraisers to collect all the necessary funds for the trip, while local businesses in the Corinth area also contributed to make the cross-regional tour a reality.
Looking ahead, Joseph has already set his sights on the next adventure for the Corinth Secondary School cricket program, with plans to tour Guyana in 2027. He expressed hope that the Trinidad & Tobago tour is just the first of many developmental opportunities for the school’s young cricketers, as the squad continues to build skill and gain experience competing against top young talent across the Caribbean.