The weekend delivered more thrilling Saint Lucia Premier League T20 cricket action as the competition moved to its Choiseul leg. The La Fargue Playing Field hosted matches in daylight and under floodlights.
The first fixture on Saturday saw the Soufriere Titans edge out the Micoud Eagles in a nail-biter. Batting first, Micoud posted a competitive 177-7. The innings was anchored by skipper Mervin Wells, who scored 48 from 40 deliveries. Keygan Arnold added impetus with a blazing 76 off 45 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, finishing as the top scorer. Djourn Charles, with figures of 2-44, was the pick of the bowlers, while overseas player Kevin Sinclair restricted scoring with 1-13 from four overs.
In reply, the Titans lost Sinclair for a first-ball duck, and Dwight Thomas was trapped LBW soon after. Batting at three, Mateo Boulogne struck 48 from 34 balls while holding the middle order together. Several batters made starts, but regular wickets pushed the game into the final over. The men from Sulphur City crossed the line with one wicket and four deliveries to spare.
In the second match, the Mon Repos Pioneers defeated the South Castries Lions by 16 runs. Batting first, the Pioneers reached 168 all out, a modest but defendable total. The effort was powered by Sabinus Emmanuel, who smashed 76 runs off 30 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes. Outside his opening partner, Gian Benjamin, who scored 27, Emmanuel received little support.
The Lions’ big names failed to fire. Johnson Charles fell for a first-ball duck. Andre Fletcher, batting at number four, managed only five. Bolton Sayers played a well-crafted 51 from 27 deliveries, including seven fours and two sixes, and Ephron Charles added 38. However, their contributions were not enough as the team was bowled out for 152.
Sunday afternoon’s clash between the Babonneau Leatherbacks and the City Blasters saw the team from the city centre dominate. Batting first, the Blasters piled up 247-4. Amari Goodridge smashed 74 off 23 balls, including 10 sixes and two fours. Kensley Paul (64) and Ryshon Williams (51) both registered well-played half-centuries. On a day when the run rate soared above 10 an over, Nyeem Rosemond’s 1-28 stood out, while Khan Elcock finished as the pick of the bowlers with 2-20.
The total proved far too much for the Leatherbacks, who were bundled out for 178. Joshua Mann fought hard with 72 off 37 deliveries, while captain Shervon Joseph added 35. Beyond their efforts, the team struggled to find support and lost by 69 runs. Pacer McKenny Clarke bagged four wickets for 22, including Mann’s dismissal via a caught-and-bowled effort.
In the final fixture of the weekend, Choiseul Craft Masters’ Junior Henry stole the show. His 143 runs from 61 balls, featuring 13 fours and 12 sixes, marked the highest individual score of the tournament so far. His innings, supported by smaller contributions from teammates, powered Choiseul to 236 in their 20 overs and a 28-run victory over the Soufriere Titans in a battle of neighbouring communities.
The Craft Masters appeared set for a comfortable win as their bowlers struck at regular intervals. However, Shanii Mesmain, batting at number 10, blasted 64 from 28 deliveries, giving the men in orange a late surge. Despite his efforts, the Titans fell short, and the Craft Masters claimed victory after 40 overs of gripping cricket.
At this stage, the City Blasters sit atop the table with 16 points, followed by the Soufriere Titans on nine points, with Babonneau Leatherbacks and South Castries Lions tied on seven. The Leatherbacks are ahead on net run rate.
