标签： Saint Lucia

South Africa delivered a commanding performance to crush the West Indies by nine wickets in the opening match of the KFC T20 International series at Boland Park in Paarl on January 27. The victory marked South Africa’s largest margin of victory by wickets against the Caribbean side in T20 history.

The match, which served as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, saw the West Indies competing without regular captain Shai Hope, who was rested for the fixture. Roston Chase assumed leadership duties for his 50th T20 international appearance.

After winning the toss and electing to field, South African captain Aiden Markram’s decision proved immediately justified as the Proteas restricted the visitors to 57/3 during the powerplay period. The West Indies’ innings struggled to gain momentum despite a resilient sixth-wicket partnership between Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer, who combined for a crucial 74-run stand off 50 deliveries. Their efforts propelled the Caribbean side to a seemingly competitive total of 173/7 from their allotted 20 overs.

South Africa’s response was nothing short of dominant, with openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Markram launching a blistering assault that yielded 68 runs without loss during the powerplay. The West Indies’ fielding woes compounded their troubles when both Pretorius (on 21) and Markram (on 27) were dropped in the field. Pretorius eventually fell for 44, but Markram continued his destructive innings, smashing 86 runs from just 47 deliveries. Ryan Rickelton provided supporting fire with an unbeaten 40 as South Africa cruised to victory with 9 wickets and 20 balls to spare.

Millet/Vanard delivered a commanding performance to secure their place in the championship final of the John Estephane Veterans T20 Tapeball Tournament with a decisive seven-wicket triumph over L’Abayee. The match, held at Balata Playing Field on January 26, showcased Millet/Vanard’s comprehensive dominance in both bowling and batting departments.

L’Abayee, opting to bat first after winning the toss, struggled to build momentum against a disciplined Millet/Vanard bowling attack. Their innings concluded at 126-6 after the allotted overs, with Julius Archie Simon providing the primary resistance through a determined knock of 53 runs. Shalamia Biscette offered secondary support with 21 runs. The bowling effort from Millet/Vanard was notably collective, with Justus Leo leading the attack by capturing two wickets. Avitus James, Bradley Giddings, Shervon Leo, and David Justin each contributed significantly with one wicket apiece, demonstrating well-coordinated team execution.

The chase proved remarkably straightforward for Millet/Vanard, who reached their target of 127 in a mere 14 overs, losing only three wickets in the process. The victory was anchored by a spectacular batting display from Aloysius Charles, who smashed a rapid 54 runs, effectively dismantling the opposition’s bowling strategy. He received substantial support from Marvin Charles, whose contribution of 31 runs further solidified their team’s commanding position and seamless path to victory.

This emphatic win propels Millet/Vanard into the tournament final, scheduled for February 1 again at the Balata Playing Field. They are set to compete against fellow finalists Mini Bus in what anticipates being a highly competitive summit clash. The final is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start and will be preceded by the third-place playoff encounter between L’Abayee and Combined Vets.

Megan Nestor, a senior forward for the University of North Texas, has officially ascended to the pinnacle of NCAA Division I women’s basketball, securing her status as the nation’s most dominant rebounder. The latest statistical report from the U.S. collegiate athletics organization, dated January 26, confirms her position at the top.

The 6-foot-4 transfer from Saint Lucia delivered yet another historic performance on January 23, amassing a staggering 27 rebounds alongside 19 points achieved with remarkable efficiency on just nine field goal attempts. This monumental effort marks the third occasion this season she has exceeded 20 rebounds in a single game and the second time within a week. Nestor now possesses the two highest single-game rebound totals in the entire NCAA this season, having previously hauled in 31 boards back in December.

Despite Nestor’s individual brilliance, the Mean Green suffered a narrow 57-53 defeat to Tulsa at the Super Pit. The loss places their overall record at 11-9 and 5-3 within the American Conference. North Texas controlled the contest for the majority of the afternoon, leading for over 33 minutes of game time and holding Tulsa to a season-low 18 first-half points. However, a scoring drought in the final stretch ultimately resulted in their ninth loss.

Nestor’s 27-rebound outing stands as the second-most prolific performance in the history of the American Conference, trailing only her own record-setting December game. Her season averages have soared to 13.2 rebounds and 265 total boards, both leading the nation. In conference play, her dominance is even more pronounced, averaging 13.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, accompanied by six double-doubles.

Head Coach Jason Burton praised her incredible achievement, stating, ‘Talk about another NCAA-type record performance. You’d hope that comes in a win, so as a staff, we’ll keep at it. We’ll keep trying to figure some things out.’ Nestor’s season places her among an elite group, as one of only four players nationwide averaging a double-double with at least 12 points and 12 rebounds per game.

Jamaican track and field circles witnessed an extraordinary display of athletic prowess as Saint Lucian thrower Denzel Philips demolished his own national record not once, but twice during the McKenley/Wint Track & Field Classic 2026 on January 24. The Jamaica College senior achieved this remarkable feat at Calabar High School Sports Complex in Kingston, Jamaica, demonstrating unprecedented growth in the under-20 men’s shot put discipline.

Competing in the Boys Class 1 final, Philips launched the six-kilogram shot put to an impressive 17.17 meters on his fourth attempt, securing fifth position against world-class competition. This monumental throw places him among the global top ten athletes in his category for 2026. Notably, his third attempt of 16.84 meters had already surpassed his previous week’s national junior record of 16.33 meters, making this the second time in seven days that he rewrote Saint Lucia’s athletic history.

The event was dominated by Javontae Smith’s winning throw of 18.78 meters, with Kamari Kennedy claiming second place at 18.65 meters. Despite finishing fifth, Philips’ performance captured significant attention due to his rapid improvement and technical mastery.

Rajive Ford, Philips’ coach at Jamaica College, expressed unwavering confidence in his protege’s potential. In an exclusive statement to St. Lucia Times, Ford outlined ambitious targets for the young athlete: ‘We are hopeful that he will achieve qualifying distances for both shot put and discus throw to compete at the World U-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon this August. These require 18.30 meters in shot put and 56 meters in discus.’

Ford emphasized Philips’ psychological transformation as the key factor behind his recent successes. ‘The most significant change in his final junior year is his confidence,’ Ford observed. ‘Denzel has developed genuine self-belief that manifests in every training session and competition attempt.’

The coach revealed that Philips has demonstrated natural throwing aptitude since beginning the sport, noting his successful transition from U17 to U20 categories as evidence of his exceptional potential. While currently excelling in shot put, Ford believes Philips’ true specialty lies in discus throwing and anticipates further breakthroughs in coming weeks.

Training alongside world-class competitors weekly, Philips represents the promising future of Saint Lucian athletics. Despite already holding two national junior records and one senior record, both athlete and coach maintain that his most impressive achievements still lie ahead.