It was a win‑or‑go‑home affair on Tuesday evening, May 12, at the Francis “Baba” Lastic Grounds, as Choiseul Craft Masters battled Micoud Eagles for a chance to stay in contention for the Saint Lucia Premier League T20 title. In the end, the Craft Masters reigned supreme, but not without twists in the tale.
The Men in Orange started strongly, removing Dominic Auguste without scoring. Micoud Eagles continued to lose wickets at regular intervals in the first 10 overs, ending the period at 71-4. Then, the drama began. While Murlan Sammy and Rohan Lesmond were at the crease, Choiseul created chances with the ball, but were repeatedly let down by their fielders. A total of seven catches were dropped in the outfield.
The pair should not have scored so many runs. Choiseul missed several golden opportunities to dismiss them. However, Sammy took advantage of his good fortune, posting a streaky 55 runs off 47 deliveries. Lesmond added 39. The Eagles eventually posted an unlikely 164 off their 20 overs. Bronté Bess (2/28) and Shawnil Edward (2-19) were the standout bowlers for the Craft Masters.
In reply, the Craft Masters began their chase in no-nonsense fashion. The team raced to 48 runs in just four overs before losing their first wicket, Jason Simon. His partner, and eventual Man of the Match, Trevon James, held firm. The overseas player smashed 75 not out off 42 deliveries. He hit five fours and five sixes. James pushed his side over the line and into Qualifier 2, set to be played on Sunday at the same venue. The orange-clad faithful, who continue to support their team in large numbers, celebrated a five-wicket victory.
In a post‑match interview, Kurstan Jules, captain of the victorious Craft Masters, praised his team’s resilience despite the errors in the field. He also commended the unwavering support of the travelling fans.
“We did put ourselves under some pressure by dropping seven catches. But despite that, we still restricted them to 165, so that shows how well we bowled. So, I just have to commend the bowlers and our batsmen for coming out there and getting us the victory.
“We know Choiseul is right on the next side of the island, and they come out to support us in high numbers. As you can see, we have more supporters in Gros Islet than anybody else. So, that alone shows you how committed they are to us, and we definitely are doing it for them.”
The Craft Masters now await the results of Qualifier 1, scheduled for Friday night. This will determine who they will face in a virtual semifinal in Qualifier 2 for a chance to reach this year’s finals.
