Cricket was central to the opening weekend of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2026) in Antigua & Barbuda. Saint Lucian allrounder Tarrique Edward starred on Sunday, as the Commonwealth Caribbean XI dominated the Wider Commonwealth XI by 43 runs in an Under-23 T10 fixture at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound.
With the bat, Edward hit a game-high 34 runs off just 15 balls, as the Caribbean team accelerated to a commanding 118-5. Skipper Stephan Pascal of Dominica and 18-year-old Antiguan local Tanez Francis set a steady foundation, each chipping in with 26 at the top of the order.
Edward, a former West Indies Under-19 standout, then turned the screws with his right-arm off-spin. He was central to holding the Wider Commonwealth XI to just 75-8, returning phenomenal figures of 2-10. Jamaican leg-spinner Tamarie Redwood sustained the pressure, ripping through the middle order to claim 3-9.
Edward’s match-winning exploit continues a productive period for Saint Lucian cricket. The 22-year-old’s transition through the local High Performance system mirrors the recent upward trajectories of peers Shadrack Descarte and Keon Gaston to the West Indies ‘A’ team, as well as Theo Edward’s recent callup to the Windward Islands Volcanoes.
Sunday’s exhibition clash, organised by Cricket West Indies in tandem with the Commonwealth Secretariat, formed part of the broader One Commonwealth, One Team initiative. The fixture followed a ceremonial five-over match featuring active Heads of Government.Â
To add to the historical weight of the afternoon, the proceedings commenced with a ceremonial coin toss conducted by His Majesty King Charles III, with honorary team manager Sir Vivian Richards in attendance.
