Carib Scope

标签： Saint Lucia

圣卢西亚

  • Descarte to lead strong Saint Lucia team at Windwards tournament

    Descarte to lead strong Saint Lucia team at Windwards tournament

    As the highly anticipated 2025 Windward Islands Senior Men’s Cricket Tournament approaches, Saint Lucia has announced its 14-player competitive squad, bringing a mix of experienced leadership, returning star power, and exciting youth prospects to the table. The tournament, hosted entirely in Grenada, will run from July 26 through to the final match on August 3, drawing regional teams from across the Windward Islands archipelago to compete for the regional title.

    At the helm of the Saint Lucian squad is new captain Shadrack Descarte, an accomplished allrounder who earned the leadership appointment off the back of consistent, high-impact performances for both the Windward Islands Volcanoes and the Saint Lucia Kings franchise in recent regional competitions. Serving alongside Descarte as vice-captain is fellow allrounder Tarrique Edward, a young player who climbed the ranks through Saint Lucia’s youth development system and earned his first senior international cap just last year in 2024.

    One of the most notable inclusions in the squad is the return of opening batsman Stephen Naitram, one of the island’s most destructive top-order hitters, who missed out on selection for the 2024 iteration of the tournament. The 31-year-old Forestierre native has been in devastating form across domestic limited-overs competitions in the past year: he turned in dominant displays in both the Dream11 T10 Blast and the Saint Lucia Premier League, and played a key role in leading the Banana Warriors to a title win at the 2024 Nature Isle T10. Naitram’s comeback fills the gaps left by the absences of current West Indies international Ackeem Auguste and former Windward Islands youth captain Johnnel Eugene.

    Joining Descarte and Naitram in the group of returning key players are former West Indies Under-19 captain Kimani Melius, Windward Islands wicketkeeper Noelle Leo, veteran left-arm spinner Jaden Elibox, and fast-bowling allrounder Tyrel Chicot. The squad also showcases four first-time senior call-ups ready to make their mark at the regional level: Dominic Auguste, Joshua Cepal, Royce Paul, and Tyler Venner.

    Each of the four rookies brings unique strengths to the Saint Lucian side. Cepal and Paul, two promising young fast bowlers, have been tapped to fill the bowling vacancies created by the departures of Keon Gaston and McKenny Clarke. Allrounder Venner enters the squad off a red-hot run of form at the Cricket West Indies Rising Stars 50-Over Championship, where he notched back-to-back half-centuries to cement his reputation as a rising talent. Dominic Auguste, a powerful top-order batter, also adds depth to the squad as a backup wicketkeeper.

    Rounding out the 14-man roster are Windward Islands Under-19 captain and opening batsman Theo Edward, who turned in an impressive performance at the recent regional youth championship, right-arm offspinner Lee John, and left-arm medium pacer Shawnil Edward.

    Leading the team’s coaching staff for the tournament is former West Indies offspinner Garey Mathurin, who takes on the head coach role. A certified Level 3 cricket coach, Mathurin brings extensive regional coaching experience, having previously worked with the Windward Islands Volcanoes senior side. Nerville Florence returns to his post as team manager, a position he has held successfully for the past two editions of the tournament.

    For Saint Lucia, the road to the title kicks off early with a one-off three-day warm-up fixture against the Commonwealth of Dominica, scheduled to start this Sunday at Grenada’s Tanteen Cricket Ground. The official Super-50 Championship group stage gets underway next Thursday, where defending champions Saint Lucia will open their title defense against St Vincent & the Grenadines at Tanteen. Following the opening group match, Saint Lucia will face Dominica and hosts Grenada at La Sagesse Cricket Ground, with the tournament final set to take place on Monday, August 3 at the same La Sagesse venue.

  • Saint Lucia set for Caribbean Golf Championships

    Saint Lucia set for Caribbean Golf Championships

    Next week will mark a historic milestone for golf in Saint Lucia, as a seven-person national delegation departs for Nassau, Bahamas to compete in the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championship (CAGC) — the Caribbean Golf Association’s flagship annual competition that brings together the region’s top amateur talent in both team and individual divisions.

    The squad features four male golfers, two female athletes, and one team manager, who will test their skills against elite competitors from across the Caribbean at Nassau’s scenic Royal Blue Golf Course. This tournament comes just months after Saint Lucia formally gained membership in the regional golf association back in May, making this one of the country’s first major appearances at the CAGC’s top level. Notably, Saint Lucia will be missing its top-ranked player, Yadhu Urs, who has committed to competing at the concurrent Central American and Caribbean Games and will not join the squad in The Bahamas.

    Leading the men’s roster are two of Saint Lucia’s most promising young emerging talents: Nicolas Beaubrun and Harith Khan. Beaubrun boasts a decades-long legacy with the Saint Lucian national team, making his first national splash back in 2006 when he claimed the Boys Under-13 title at the Trinidad Open. Today, he holds the 2025 Saint Lucia Open net champion title, and has notched international experience competing at the 2022 Latin America Amateur Championship and the 2023 Eastern Caribbean Golf Association (ECGA) Championship, where he helped Saint Lucia secure the team victory.

    Khan, meanwhile, has built a reputation for consistent, steady play that has lifted his standing in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) over recent years. He also represented Saint Lucia at the 2023 ECGA Championship, and earned his spot in the 2025 Latin America Amateur Championship after finishing runner-up at the 2024 Saint Lucia National Invitational.

    Rounding out the men’s team are veteran competitor Eugene Edwin and player-coach Tim Mangal. Edwin, who has been competing in regional golf for 40 years, is a decorated senior champion and multiple-time regional tournament winner. He added two more major accolades to his resume in 2024: the Senior Gross Champion title at the ECGA Championship, and first place in the senior men’s division at the Saint Lucia Open. Mangal, who serves as both a player and the head of the national golf program, has represented Saint Lucia at dozens of regional competitions and mentored many of the country’s top amateur golfers. Most recently, he led Team Saint Lucia to win the 2025 ECGA Amateur Gross Championship.

    On the women’s side, the team features Catherine Spooner and Marisa Groenewald, two of Saint Lucia’s top performing golfers this season. Spooner climbed to third place in the women’s division at the 2025 ECGA Championship, and earned her biggest career win earlier this year by taking the women’s title at the Saint Lucia Open — a follow-up to her top-three finish at the same tournament in 2024. Groenewald, a member of Saint Lucia’s 2023 ECGA champion squad, claimed two individual titles at the 2025 Saint Lucia Golf Open and has solidified her status as one of the country’s leading domestic players.

    Heading up the delegation as team manager is Dwayne King, who also serves as public relations officer for Golf Saint Lucia Inc. An amateur golfer himself and a longtime sports administrator, King has played a central role in expanding access to golf and growing the sport’s popularity across Saint Lucia.

    For the 2026 CAGC tournament, male competitors will tackle a 6,827-yard (6,242-meter) course, while female athletes will compete on a 6,152-yard (5,625-meter) layout. Following the tournament format established in recent years, the competition will consist of three days of 18-hole stroke play, for a total of 54 holes for all competitors. National teams from across the region will compete for two major trophies: the Hoerman Cup for men’s team play and the George Teale Trophy for women’s team play. The 2025 iteration of the championship was hosted at the Barbados Golf Club last year.

  • Search ends as four confirmed dead in Anse Cochon boat collision

    Search ends as four confirmed dead in Anse Cochon boat collision

    A multi-day search operation for two missing people following a deadly late-night boat collision off the western coast of Saint Lucia has concluded, with law enforcement officials confirming both victims’ remains were recovered on Wednesday morning.

    The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force announced that the bodies of Marley William and Tyrone Elivique, both residents of Baron’s Drive in the coastal town of Soufrière, were located in waters off Anse La Raye Bay during a three-hour search window between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. Wednesday.

    With the recovery of William and Elivique, the total death toll from the July 18 collision has risen to four. Police had previously identified the two other fatal victims: 21-year-old Mhakeida Nestor, a resident of La Fargue in Choiseul, and 25-year-old Debbie Dolor, who lived on Market Road in Soufrière.

    The tragic incident unfolded just five minutes before midnight on Saturday, July 18, near the coastal area of Anse Cochon. The collision involved two commercial motor vessels operating in the region: the Ocean Angel and the Mango Tours. Initial investigative findings outline that the Mango Tours vessel was traveling southbound when it collided head-on with the northbound Ocean Angel. Authorities have confirmed that the wreckage of both damaged vessels has since been retrieved from the collision site for forensic examination.

    Fourteen additional people sustained injuries in the crash. All injured individuals were first transported to Soufrière Hospital for immediate medical evaluation and stabilization. Those with more severe, life-threatening injuries were later transferred to the island’s two main public hospitals to receive advanced ongoing care. As of the latest update, no further details have been released on the current condition of the injured survivors.

    Local law enforcement has confirmed that official investigations into the root causes of the collision, including potential factors like operator error, equipment failure, poor visibility or adverse water conditions, remain ongoing. Authorities have not yet announced a timeline for the release of the full final investigative report.

  • Digicel expands fibre network to reach more than 99 per cent of homes in Saint Lucia

    Digicel expands fibre network to reach more than 99 per cent of homes in Saint Lucia

    Telecommunications provider Digicel has unveiled a landmark network expansion project that will bring its full-fibre high-speed internet infrastructure to nearly every residential address across the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia. When the rollout is finished, an additional 23,412 households will gain access to the company’s fibre services, pushing the total number of reachable homes to 53,253 — a figure that accounts for more than 99% of all residences on the island.

    Backed by an EC$6.36 million investment, the expansion project kicked off construction in July 2025. As of the latest update, work is roughly 50% finished, with a full completion target set for September of this year. The upgraded infrastructure will extend service to underserved communities across 10 parishes and districts: Anse La Raye, Canaries, Soufriere, Choiseul, Dennery, Praslin, Micoud, Vieux Fort, Babonneau, and Castries.

    As each phase of the rollout goes live, local households and small business owners will be able to subscribe to a range of digital services, including high-speed residential internet, Internet Protocol television (IPTV), and discounted bundled service packages. The improved connectivity is expected to deliver widespread benefits across daily life in Saint Lucia, powering more seamless online learning for students, enabling stable remote work for employees, supporting the growth of local digital services, expanding entertainment options for families, and boosting the efficiency of day-to-day business operations across the island.

    Joel Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of Digicel Saint Lucia, emphasized the company’s commitment to closing the digital divide in the country. “Reliable, high-speed connectivity should be available to every community in Saint Lucia,” Wallace stated. “By taking fibre deeper into areas that have traditionally been harder to reach, this investment will give more families and businesses the tools they need to learn, work, access services, and participate fully in the digital economy.”

    This latest expansion builds on existing broadband infrastructure developed through the Caribbean Regional Communications Infrastructure Programme (CARCIP), a regional development initiative backed by the World Bank and implemented in partnership with the Government of Saint Lucia. The program’s core goal is to expand broadband connectivity across the Caribbean region, and Digicel’s new project leverages that existing foundation to extend fibre access more broadly and equitably to communities across Saint Lucia.

  • Saint Lucia tops Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List

    Saint Lucia tops Expedia’s 2026 Island Hot List

    American travel industry leader Expedia has unveiled its highly anticipated 2026 Island Hot List, ranking the most sought-after island destinations set to explode in popularity among global travelers next year. Claiming the number one position on the rankings is the Caribbean gem Saint Lucia, which outpaced nine other standout islands to secure the top title.

    Saint Lucia was explicitly honored by Expedia as the world’s top pick for romantic escapes, with the travel company highlighting that the island perfectly caters to couples in search of intimate, one-of-a-kind experiences, postcard-worthy natural landscapes, and secluded private retreats. Booking data included in Expedia’s analysis shows a 125% projected surge in travel interest to Saint Lucia for 2026, the largest growth spike recorded among all destinations on the list.

    Officials from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) welcomed the recognition, noting that the ranking reinforces the island’s long-held reputation as a premier destination for more than just romantic trips. Beyond romance, Saint Lucia has established itself as a top location for adventure seekers, wellness travelers, and visitors craving immersive, authentic Caribbean cultural experiences.

    What makes Saint Lucia such a draw for travelers from across the globe? The island is home to the iconic Pitons, the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed volcanic peaks that have become one of the Caribbean’s most recognizable landmarks. It also boasts a collection of world-class luxury resorts, pristine, uncrowded sandy beaches, a vibrant local cultural scene rooted in Caribbean tradition, and a wide range of activities for every type of traveler — from hiking and snorkeling to rum tastings and local festivals. This combination of natural beauty, amenities, and cultural authenticity continues to draw visitors seeking trips that stand out from standard beach getaways.

    Joining Saint Lucia on the 2026 Hot List are nine other trending islands, each recognized for their unique appeal. Portugal’s Porto Santo, located in the Madeira archipelago, takes second place with an 85% projected growth in travel interest, earning the title of best destination for wellness and relaxation. Praslin in the Seychelles ranks third with 80% projected growth, highlighted as the top pick for nature lovers. Greece’s Syros comes in fourth with 60% projected growth, celebrated for its standout cuisine and old-world charm. Norway’s Lofoten Islands round out the top five with 50% projected growth, named the best destination for Arctic adventures. Further down the list are Palawan in the Philippines (best for natural wonders, 40% growth), Culebra in Puerto Rico (best for water adventures, 35% growth), Florida’s Sanibel Island (best for family escapes, 25% growth), Vietnam’s Phu Quoc (best for affordable luxury, 25% growth), and Fiji (best for multi-generational trips, 15% growth).

    The full 2026 Island Hot List, including additional details about each destination and travel booking resources, is available to the public on Expedia’s official UK website.

  • Xuvo, Andrew capture top Carnival prizes

    Xuvo, Andrew capture top Carnival prizes

    The 2026 Saint Lucia Carnival has wrapped its vibrant annual celebrations, with two standout competitors claiming the most prestigious crowns in the island nation’s iconic cultural festival. The Carnival Planning and Management Agency officially公布了 full competition results Wednesday, following two days of dynamic parades that saw ten top mas bands perform before a panel of expert judges on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

    In the highly contested Band of the Year category, Xuvo Carnival secured the premier title with its immersive production themed “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, ending the reign of previous champion Tribe of Twel by a narrow six-point margin. Xuvo earned a total score of 414 points, while Tribe of Twel, presenting their 2026 concept “Twel-26 – Gold”, followed close behind with 408 points to claim second place. Beyond the overall crown, Xuvo also took home the award for Best Designed Band, solidifying its reputation for exceptional creative execution this year.

    A diverse spread of honors went to multiple participating groups across the festival’s 11 competitive categories. Fuzion Mas emerged as a multi-award winner, taking home Section of the Year for their display “Genesis”, as well as the Mas on the Move title. Legends Carnival earned the coveted Spirit of Carnival award, while Tribe of Twel dominated individual competition categories: the band claimed the top five spots in Individual of the Year and also won Best Portrayal.

    In the traditional Ole Mas category, Julian “Bull” Calderon took the crown with his playful entry “At my age I have everything going for me”. For J’ouvert, the pre-dawn street party that kicks off Carnival celebrations, Back in Times J’ouvert claimed the J’ouvert Band of the Year title with their presentation “The Power of the Earth”.

    In the Road March, the award for the most popular song played during the parade, Andrew’s infectious Dennery segment anthem “Biscuit” stormed to the top spot, beating out runners-up Tallyboy & Sedale’s “Bum-Bum Whistle” and third-place finisher Ezra D’fun Machine’s “Salute” to claim the title.

    The annual Lucian Carnival draws thousands of visitors and participants each year, celebrating the island’s rich Creole cultural heritage through vibrant costuming, music, and street parades. This year’s competition delivered the close contest and dynamic creativity that has made the event a highlight of the Caribbean festival calendar.

  • Lucian Carnival parade ends smoothly without major incidents

    Lucian Carnival parade ends smoothly without major incidents

    The annual Lucian Carnival drew to a close on Tuesday in the capital city of Castries, capping off a vibrant two-day parade celebration that brought together thousands of masqueraders, spectators, and high-profile guests. The final day of festivities centered on the hotly contested “Mas on the Move” category, where all 10 competing marching bands traversed the route from the starting point in Choc to the downtown Castries finish line. The procession kicked off shortly before 11 a.m., and by 4:30 p.m., every band had completed the route into the city, marking the end of the competitive segment.

    Monday marked the first official day of competitive parading, when bands showcased their elaborate full costume designs for judges. Adjudicators evaluated entries across a range of award categories, including the prestigious Band of the Year, Section of the Year, and Individual of the Year, among other honors. For the second day of celebrations on Tuesday, event organizers adopted a relatively new trend borrowed from neighboring Trinidad, where most revellers trade heavy, intricate full costumes for more casual “Tuesday wear” to stay comfortable amid tropical temperatures.

    The closing parade was officially scheduled to conclude at 7 p.m., but the vast majority of bands had already made their way back to the starting point hours ahead of the official end time. Local law enforcement reported that the entire two-day celebration unfolded largely without major disruption, with no serious violent incidents or large-scale disturbances recorded across the event route. While the event stayed peaceful, local Fire and Emergency Services teams did respond to multiple calls for assistance each day, most involving common festival-related medical issues: dehydration, alcohol-related ailments, falls, and minor traffic collisions.

    This year’s competition for the top Band of the Year title featured 10 local entries: Fuzion Mas, Xuvo Carnival Band, Tribe of Twel, Just 4 Fun, Local Foreigners, Royalites Xtreme, Xpressions Carnival Band, Island Tribe, Nexus Mas, and Legends Carnival Band. Two groups stood out for their size: Just 4 Fun and Xuvo Carnival Band each fielded more than 2,000 participants, making them the largest marching contingents in this year’s parade. Beyond the local competitive bands, the 2025 Lucian Carnival also welcomed visiting performance groups from the French Antilles, alongside featured displays from traditional Caribbean performers including steelpan musicians and stiltwalkers that added cultural depth to the celebrations.

    A slew of celebrity guests joined in the festivities this year, with R&B artist Chloe Bailey, reality TV star and singer Kandi Burrus, and iconic soca musician Machel Montano all taking part in the parade, with all three seen openly enjoying the vibrant Caribbean celebration. High-energy local hit songs kept crowds and revellers dancing throughout the two-day event, standouts included Tallyboy and Sedale’s viral track “Whistle”, Ezra’s “Salute”, Hollywood HP’s “Waite”, and Andrew’s “Biscuit”. The Carnival Planning and Management Committee (CPMC), the governing body that organizes the annual Lucian Carnival, announced that official results for all competitive categories, including the coveted Road March title, will be revealed to the public on Wednesday.

  • After deadly boat collision, SLASPA eyes stronger maritime safety measures

    After deadly boat collision, SLASPA eyes stronger maritime safety measures

    A deadly boat collision off Saint Lucia’s western coast has left the nation in mourning, as official investigations continue into the tragedy and search operations persist for missing victims. In the wake of the incident that shook the country’s maritime community and general public, the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA) has outlined its formal response, committing to systemic safety improvements once police conclude their probe.

    The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has taken the lead in piecing together the circumstances of the collision, with SLASPA’s Department of Maritime Affairs already on hand to support the investigation. As the country’s designated maritime regulator, SLASPA is contributing all required regulatory documentation and technical expertise to help investigators build a clear picture of what led to the fatal crash, and has pledged full ongoing cooperation with law enforcement throughout the inquiry.

    In an official public statement released after the incident, SLASPA first extended its deepest condolences to all those impacted by the tragedy. “This heartbreaking incident has deeply saddened the maritime community and the nation as a whole,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives, as well as those who sustained injuries or were otherwise affected by this tragedy. We wish the injured a full and speedy recovery, and we send our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved, hoping they find comfort and strength in the support of their loved ones and the wider community.”

    Looking ahead, SLASPA has confirmed that once the police investigation wraps up and its final findings and recommendations are released, the authority will launch a comprehensive review of the report. Based on that review, any additional safety measures identified as necessary will be implemented to strengthen protection for waterway users across Saint Lucia.

    SLASPA also reaffirmed its longstanding core mandate as the country’s maritime regulator, noting that it maintains a commitment to keeping Saint Lucia’s waters safe and responsibly managed through a combination of robust regulation, proactive oversight, collaborative engagement with cross-sector stakeholders, and targeted public awareness campaigns. For now, however, authorities remain focused on completing the investigation and continuing search efforts for victims still reported missing following the weekend collision.

  • Environmental and Agricultural Foundation gets $13,500 grant for eco project

    Environmental and Agricultural Foundation gets $13,500 grant for eco project

    The Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia has secured critical new funding to advance its national eco-sustainability agenda, after the St. Lucia Environmental and Agricultural Foundation received a targeted grant from the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Small Grants Programme this Friday.

    Valued at 13,500 Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC$), the award will fund the initial design phase of a landmark national initiative centered on two interconnected priorities: climate-resilient sustainable agriculture and evidence-based coastal zone management. Over the design period, the funding will cover three core activities: baseline scientific research on current agricultural and coastal ecosystem health, multi-stakeholder consultation workshops bringing together local farmers, conservation groups, and government officials, and technical support to help the foundation develop a scalable, long-term operational business model for the project.

    Once the design phase is completed, the foundation plans to submit a full project proposal to GEF to secure a 45,000 U.S. dollar implementation grant, equivalent to roughly 121,615 Eastern Caribbean dollars. Giles Romulus, national coordinator for the project, framed the initial grant award as far more than a one-off injection of funding — rather, it marks the starting point of a broader national movement toward more responsible resource stewardship across the island. Immediately following the grant announcement, Romulus led an orientation seminar to walk project stakeholders through the requirements and next steps for advancing the initiative.

    “This is the beginning of a long relationship with this group, and we are hoping that because the group works all over Saint Lucia, they will demonstrate how to use resources sustainably and also build the capacity of other groups that have similar missions and visions for Saint Lucia,” Romulus explained in an interview with local outlet St Lucia Times.

    Romulus emphasized that the initiative aligns directly with Saint Lucia’s core national goals for long-term food security, public health, and sustainable land use. As a small island developing state with extremely limited land and natural resources, intentional, rigorous stewardship is not an optional policy goal but an existential necessity, he noted.

    “When you are small, you need to take care of what you have even more consciously and in a more rigorous, focused way,” he said. “Therefore, what they are trying to do is say, ‘Okay, we have limited space, we have limited land, we have limited soil. Let us find a way to use the soil in a sustainable way and to produce produce that has minimum or zero toxic chemicals in it’. This will not, for example, later down the road contribute to cancer cases in Saint Lucia and other morbidity issues. So, this project has both a food security and, in many respects, a nutritional security and health component. But most importantly, it is about taking care of what we have.”

    Cherica Toussaint, president of the St. Lucia Environmental and Agricultural Foundation, welcomed the grant as a transformative opportunity for the organization and the country as a whole, expressing profound gratitude for GEF’s investment in Saint Lucia’s sustainable future.

    “I stand here today with immense gratitude. We are very honoured in receiving these grants, and I hope that it serves as a powerful catalyst for a more sustainable Saint Lucia and a healthier environment,” Toussaint said.

  • Motie’s fifer not enough as New Zealand clinch series in Sobers tribute ODI

    Motie’s fifer not enough as New Zealand clinch series in Sobers tribute ODI

    On July 19, the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados played host to a tense, low-scoring One Day International that delivered heart-stopping drama on and off the pitch. Before the first ball was bowled, the venue fell into a reverent hush, as both the West Indies Men’s Maroon team and New Zealand’s Black Caps gathered to honor the life and irreplaceable legacy of Sir Garfield Sobers, the iconic Bajan all-rounder widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, who passed away just days before the fixture. In a touching gesture of community remembrance, all fans were granted free entry to the ground to share in the tribute.

    After winning the pre-match coin toss, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner made the call to field first, a decision that would pay early dividends as the West Indies’ batting order struggled to find rhythm from the outset. Opener Ackeem Auguste put up a gritty fight, compiling a patient 33 runs off 50 deliveries, but his dismissal left the hosts reeling at 62/4. The collapse continued, and West Indies slipped to 81/6 just 25 overs into their innings, leaving lower-order batters Gudakesh Motie and Amir Jangoo with an uphill battle to post a competitive total. The pair defied the New Zealand attack with an 81-run seventh-wicket stand – Motie contributing 41 and Jangoo hitting a half-century – to drag the West Indies to a final total of 188 all out.

    Chasing a modest but tricky target on a slow Barbadian pitch, New Zealand got off to a disastrous start when Matthew Forde removed Henry Nicholls for a golden duck in the very first over, leaving the Black Caps 0/1. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and by the middle of the innings, New Zealand was 77/4, with the West Indies on the cusp of a much-needed win. But a 65-run fifth-wicket partnership between Michael Bracewell, who scored 32, and Mark Chapman, who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 80, turned the tide back in New Zealand’s favor. Motie, who had rescued the West Indies with the bat, shone with the ball too, breaking the critical stand and finishing with an impressive five-wicket haul of 5/47.

    In the end, New Zealand held on by the narrowest of margins, scraping across the finish line with just one wicket in hand to seal a dramatic one-wicket victory. The win also gave the Black Caps an unassailable lead in the ODI series, wrapping up the tournament result before the final fixture.

    For the West Indies, the devastating last-ball defeat carries far more weight than just a single series loss. The team is currently in a fight for direct qualification to the 2027 50-over ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with a March 2025 cutoff for rankings points. To avoid having to go through the grueling qualifying tournament – and risk missing out on a second consecutive 50-over World Cup – the side will need to pick up the vast majority of available points from their remaining fixtures in the qualification cycle.