The Saint Lucia Premier League (SPL) T20 tournament resumes with mouthwatering playoff fixtures on Monday and Tuesday at Mindoo Phillip Park and the Gros Islet Playing Field.
The preliminary phase concluded on Tuesday after 28 thrilling matches, making Series 5 the most expansive edition yet.
With sponsorship from the National Lotteries Authority, this year’s SPL shifted from a two-group format to an eight-team round-robin competition.
Qualifier showdown: Clash of champions
On Monday, the 2017 and 2018 champions will face off in the qualifier at Gros Islet Playing Field, with a spot in the final at stake. Ackelles City Blasters topped the standings with six wins from seven matches, narrowly edging out SCCA South Castries Lions, who matched their record but trailed on net run rate. Powered by their formidable batting quintet –Stephen Naitram, Stephen Abraham, Vernilius Gabriel, Jamaal James and Jaden Elibox, the City Blasters amassed 1,272 runs. The Lions, meanwhile, relied on their bowling strength, spearheaded by Larry Edward, while posting 1,091 runs.
Eliminator battle: Redemption or repeat?
Tuesday’s eliminator will see 2019 winners CCCU Choiseul Craft Masters take on SAIL Gros Islet Knights in a rematch of their season-ending encounter last weekend. While Gros Islet claimed victory in that dead-rubber fixture, thanks to home advantage, both teams had already secured playoff berths. This time, the explosive Knights must conquer Mindoo Phillip Park to advance to the second qualifier, where they’ll meet the loser of Monday’s clash.
Of the four remaining contenders, Gros Islet carries the least pedigree; they’re the only team yet to reach a final. In contrast, City Blasters, South Castries and Choiseul have each won and lost a final in the league’s first three years.
Surprising slumps, standouts
The 2023 finalists, Avatar Micoud Eagles and SRDF Soufriere Stumpers, finished a dismal seventh and eighth this season. The Eagles managed just one win, narrowly avoiding last place on net run rate. MCCU Mon Repos Pioneers (4th) and Babonneau Leatherbacks (5th) also fell short, though the Leatherbacks can take solace in Johnnel Eugene’s stellar campaign.
The former Windward Islands youth captain blazed 332 runs in six innings, including a record-breaking 153 against Soufriere, the highest individual score in SPL history. His 67-ball onslaught at Philip Marcellin Grounds featured 18 fours and 10 sixes, contributing to an overall strike rate of 175.66.
Eugene’s heroics overshadowed Kimani Melius’ brief hold on the single-innings record. The ex-West Indies U-19 skipper smashed an unbeaten 129 off just 51 balls against City Blasters, handing them their sole defeat. His Gros Islet masterclass included 11 fours and 12 sixes, capping a season where he piled up 368 runs at a staggering strike rate of 217.75.
Noelle Leo (100 exactly) was the only other player to get triple figures this year, though his three-match stint limited him to 169 runs. Thirty batsmen notched 39 fifties across 56 innings, with Vernilius Gabriel (96), Stephen Abraham (94), and Stephen Naitram (84) posting high scores. Naitram, the league’s third-leading scorer (303 runs), hit three 50s and was the only other player to cross 300 runs.
Bowling brilliance
Spin twins Larry Edward (South Castries Lions) and Tarrique Edward (Gros Islet Knights) lead the wicket-taking charts with 16 scalps each. Veteran Larry boasts a best of 4-26, while Tarrique, a recent West Indies U-19 standout, claimed 5-29, the season’s second-best figures, eclipsed only by teammate Tyrel Chicot’s stunning 7-31.
Seven bowlers reached double-digit wickets, with three bagging five-wicket hauls. Chicot and Royce Paul (Knights) notched hat-tricks, while Choiseul’s Murgaran Shoulette (economy: 6.00) and Denzie Jn Paul (6.25) were the most frugal.
The final push
With dot-ball dominance from playoff-bound bowlers and all-round excellence from stars like Melius, Eugene and Naitram, SPL 5 has been a brilliant showcase of Saint Lucian talent. As the island’s first semi-professional league heads toward its climax, the remaining teams – City Blasters, South Castries Lions, Choiseul Craft Masters and Gros Islet Knights – will battle fiercely for the 2025 crown.
Four nights of action remain. Expect fireworks.
