Hard-hitting batters Stephen Naitram and Sabinus Emmanuel will look to clear the boundaries at Balata Playing Field this weekend as Saint Lucia hosts its first regional tapeball cricket tournament. They headline a 21-member national squad set to battle Dominica in their third annual bilateral showdown.
The National Tapeball Association welcomes Dominica over Easter weekend after two away tours. The visitors will field a national youth team and a veteran squad against four Saint Lucian sides in a three-day, eight-match series, beginning at 11 a.m. on Good Friday at Balata. The opener pits the veteran teams against each other, followed by Saint Lucia’s first team taking on Dominica’s youth side at 3 p.m.
Stanley Cherry captains the home team’s main squad, supported by deputy Jason Simon. The lineup includes Kymani Sexius, Malcolm Monrose, Jayden Elibox, Garette Alphonse, Cornillius Callendar, Jewel Simon and Orey Changoo. Meanwhile, Sacchin Cepal leads the second team, featuring Marlon O’Brian, Sanjay Hale, Alex Antoine, Dillan John, Bradley Giddings and Kester Charlemagne.
A fast-paced, social variant of cricket, tapeball swaps the traditional hard ball for a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape, generating sharper pace and swing. Popular across the Commonwealth, the format has surged in organised play, particularly among South Asian communities.
The sport’s structure has grown rapidly, with the International Tapeball Council overseeing USA-Canada (2023) and Sri Lanka-India (2024) bilateral series. Caribbean nations, spearheaded by Saint Lucia, Dominica and Barbados, are now advancing regional competition; this weekend’s clash marks another milestone.
Post-tournament, players will unwind with an island tour on Monday. The event is supported by the National Lotteries Authority and Cadet’s Distribution.
Schedule:
- Friday, 11 a.m.: Dominica Vets vs Saint Lucia Vets 1
- Friday, 3 p.m.: Dominica National vs Saint Lucia National 1
- Saturday, 10 a.m.: Dominica Vets vs Saint Lucia Vets 2
- Saturday, 3 p.m.: Dominica Vets vs Saint Lucia Vets 1
- Saturday 7 p.m.: Dominica National vs Saint Lucia National 2
- Sunday 10 a.m.: Dominica National vs Saint Lucia National 2
- Sunday 3 p.m.: Dominica Vets vs Saint Lucia Vets 2
- Sunday 7 p.m.: Dominica National vs Saint Lucia National 1
