分类： sports

In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Afghanistan secured a comprehensive 38-run victory against the West Indies in the opening match of their three-game T20 International series on January 19th in the United Arab Emirates. This triumph echoes Afghanistan’s recent success against the Caribbean Under-19 team in the ICC Men’s World Cup just one day prior, establishing a remarkable pattern of dominance across age groups.

The match commenced with Afghanistan winning the toss and electing to bat, immediately facing adversity when Rahmanullah Gurbaz was run out on the very first delivery by Gudakesh Motie. However, what followed was a record-breaking performance as Ibrahim Zadran and Darwish Rasooli constructed an monumental 162-run partnership from 106 deliveries – the highest third-wicket stand ever recorded for Afghanistan in T20 internationals. Zadran’s commanding 87 runs complemented Rasooli’s powerful 84, with both batsmen benefiting from multiple dropped chances by the West Indies fielding unit. Afghanistan concluded their innings at 181-3 after 20 overs.

West Indies’ response proved inconsistent from the outset, with only Johnson Charles among the top-order batsmen reaching double figures through his 27-run contribution from 16 balls. The innings gained temporary momentum through debutant Quentin Sampson, who impressed with 30 runs off 24 deliveries, supported by Matthew Forde’s 25. Late resistance came from Gudakesh Motie’s aggressive 28 from 15 balls, but Afghanistan’s bowling attack systematically dismantled the Caribbean lineup, dismissing them for 143 runs.

This defeat extends West Indies’ winless streak in the UAE, presenting significant concerns for head coach Daren Sammy as the team prepares for the second T20 encounter scheduled for January 21st. The series serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February.

Saint Lucian collegiate athletes delivered an impressive display of athletic prowess across multiple indoor track and field competitions in the United States over the weekend, securing four gold medal finishes and establishing two new school records.

In a remarkable comeback story, Jenneil Jacobie of East Texas A&M University Lions claimed victory at the Owen Hewett Invitational in Norman, Oklahoma. The 2024 outdoor conference champion, returning from a season-ending injury, cleared 1.80 meters in the women’s high jump, earning her a top-ten national ranking in NCAA Division I competition.

At the Akron AL Campbell Invitational in Ohio, University of Charleston’s Joy Edward achieved dual success with a first-place finish and school record performance. Edward threw 14.69 meters in shot put, narrowly missing her 2024 indoor national record, and achieved a personal best of 17.59 meters in the 20-pound weight throw.

The Washburn Rust Buster event in Topeka witnessed Kereser Augustin setting a new school record with her 39.20-second performance in the women’s 300m, finishing ahead of teammate Isabella Kupka who secured second place.

Coppin State University’s Carl Drakes continued his dominant season at the HBCU Showcase presented by Nike Running in New York City, winning the men’s 200m dash in 21.28 seconds and placing second in the 60m with a time of 6.77 seconds.

Additional notable performances included Rayshawn Harris’s indoor debut in the 800m for Coppin State, while multiple other Saint Lucian athletes delivered strong showings across various events including Reuben Nichols (3rd in 600m), Tyler Toussaint (2nd in 60m), and Cagini Pilgrim (3rd in 60m).

The collective achievements demonstrate the growing impact of Saint Lucian athletes within the competitive landscape of US collegiate athletics during the ongoing indoor season.

The Windward Islands’ challenging campaign in the Cricket West Indies T20 Blaze continued with a narrow three-wicket defeat against Barbados on Saturday, January 17th, marking their third consecutive loss in the tournament hosted at Arnos Vale Sporting Complex in Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The team faced additional adversity with the absence of captain Zaida James, a West Indies allrounder who was sidelined with a minor injury. Acting captain Jannillea Glasgow won the toss and elected to bat first, but the decision yielded little advantage as the Windwards struggled profoundly during the powerplay.

Their innings began disastrously, losing three crucial wickets within the initial eight overs while managing a meager 32 runs. Glasgow labored to eight runs from 21 deliveries, while Nerissa Crafton of Saint Lucia contributed just six from nine balls, highlighting the team’s inability to find gaps in the field.

Veteran international player Afy Fletcher emerged as the batting anchor, stabilizing the innings through a productive partnership with Carena Noel that added 37 runs across seven overs. Fletcher’s composed knock of 35 from 32 deliveries, including three boundaries, provided temporary respite before her departure in the 15th over. The final phase proved equally challenging as the Windwards lost four additional wickets while adding only 17 runs, concluding at 86-8 from their allotted overs.

Barbados’ Shamilia Connell delivered an exceptional bowling performance, claiming four wickets for just eight runs from her four overs of right-arm medium pace, effectively dismantling the Windwards’ batting lineup.

Despite the modest target, Barbados encountered significant resistance during their chase. The Windwards’ bowling attack, though disciplined in periods, conceded 24 extras that substantially aided the opposition’s pursuit. A developing partnership of 30 runs between Naijanni Cumberbatch and Asabi Callender was broken by debutant Aidith Gasper, who claimed Cumberbatch as the first of her two wickets.

Although Afy Fletcher, Aidith Gasper, and Abini St Jean each captured two wickets in a spirited defense of the low total, Barbados ultimately secured victory at the beginning of the 17th over through a combination of wayward bowling and a late-order contribution of 12 from 13 balls by Allison Gordon.

The absence of Captain James was notably felt across all three facets of the game—batting, bowling, and fielding—exacerbating the team’s challenges. Previous losses to Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago by 16 runs had already positioned the Windwards precariously in the standings. Fletcher and Glasgow currently rank fourth and fifth respectively in runs scored after three rounds with 82 and 70 runs, but the team remains winless and sits above only Jamaica in the standings due to bowling points. These two bottom-placed teams are scheduled to meet on January 19th in what promises to be a crucial encounter for both sides.

Despite a monumental individual performance from Megan Nestor, the University of North Texas (UNT) women’s basketball team saw its three-game winning streak halted in a narrow 54-58 home defeat against Rice on Saturday, January 17.

Megan Nestor, the towering 6’4″ forward from Saint Lucia, delivered a career-defining performance in the loss. She secured her fifth consecutive double-double and tenth of the season by pouring in 15 points and dominating the glass with a remarkable 21 rebounds. This marked the second time this term she has grabbed at least 20 rebounds in a single contest. Her efficiency was notable, converting six of her nine field goal attempts and three of five from the free-throw line.

Nestor’s prowess on the offensive glass places her as a co-leader nationally in the NCAA for offensive rebounds, while she also ranks among the top ten players in the country for both total rebounds and double-doubles. The alumna of Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School and former national netball player logged a UNT career-high 37 minutes of play.

The sole other bright spot for the Mean Green was Aysia Proctor, who erupted for a career-best 25 points on an efficient 10-of-16 shooting from the field. However, the collective effort fell just short. UNT mounted a late surge in the final quarter, trimming a significant deficit to a mere two points, but Rice managed to withstand the pressure and execute down the stretch to secure the conference victory.

The result moves UNT to a record of 10 wins and 8 losses on the season. Reflecting on the hard-fought battle, Head Coach Jason Burton acknowledged the quality of the opponent. ‘We knew today was going to be a battle,’ Burton stated. ‘We knew today was going to be a really good game. Hats off to Rice for getting it done… Still really proud of our team and the direction that we’re headed.’

In a thrilling conclusion to the Saint Lucia Football Association Inter-District Under-15 Girls Championship, Anse La Raye staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Dennery 2-1 in the final held January 17 at the SLFA Technical Centre in Grande Riviere, Dennery.

The championship match unfolded as a near replica of the teams’ preliminary encounter, with Anse La Raye once again overcoming an early deficit to secure victory. Dennery’s electric midfielder Faye Alphonse (#10) opened the scoring with a spectacular looping free kick that found the top corner of the net during the first half.

Despite Dennery’s dominant possession in the opening thirty minutes, the momentum shifted decisively after halftime. Anse La Raye’s relentless pressure through standout players Destiny Herman and Akala Sam resulted in multiple corner opportunities. The persistent offensive push paid dividends in the 39th minute when Lacey Popo capitalized on a poorly cleared goal kick, delivering a clinical finish from 15 yards out.

The match-winning goal arrived six minutes later when Valencia Lysan Seraphine unleashed a spectacular 20-yard strike into the far corner, marking the first goal from open play and securing Anse La Raye’s advantage. Alphonse nearly equalized in the 60th minute but narrowly missed what would become the penultimate scoring opportunity of the match.

Anse La Raye head coach Jovette Wilson attributed the victory to her team’s resilience and execution. “We had to speak to them, tell them what to do,” Wilson explained to St. Lucia Times. “They were not attacking. They were not taking the opportunities. We asked them to stay focused because they know what to do.”

Wilson praised the seven-team tournament that began in November, emphasizing its significance for women’s football development. Her championship squad included players from Anse La Raye Primary, Ciceron Secondary, and Castries Comprehensive Secondary schools.

“I love it because I never got the opportunity to play under 15,” Wilson reflected. “At a young age, I had to play seniors. We never got that. And I love the fact that now there is football for females from all ages. Every district on island should have a female team so we can develop more and have more females engaged in football.”

In the third-place match, Desruisseaux secured the consolation trophy with a 2-1 victory over Soufriere. Janii Prevost of Choiseul Secondary School scored her tournament-leading 12th goal despite her team’s loss.

The ceremony recognized individual excellence with Karimah Ferguson (Canaries) receiving Most Promising Player honors, Shariella Arthur (Anse La Raye) earning Best Goalkeeper distinction, and Janii Prevost (Soufriere) claiming the Leading Goal Scorer award.