BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE first-ever WICB/Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Festival to be held in the Caribbean region had seen St. Paul’s Primary School emerging champions for the St. Kitts’ leg of the competition.
Bedecked in their colourful uniforms with a large Scotia Bank emblem superimposed on their T-shirts, eight teams from as many schools on Friday (May 10) had gathered at the LIME grounds at Needsmust to vie for supremacy.
The teams were divided into two zones – St. Paul’s, Joshua Obadiah Williams, Estridge and Tucker Clarke Primary Schools played were under Zone A while Zone B comprised Bronte Welsh, Beach Allen, Tyrell Williams and Dieppe Bay Primary Schools.
The Festival got underway with a brief opening ceremony where Territorial Development Officer Junie Mitcham addressed the participants.
Comments were also made by Education Officer Stanley Knight and Minister of Sports the Hon. Glen Phillip who declared the festival open.
Following the opening ceremony, the LIME grounds quickly came alive with much cheering and support from the small but vocal crowd in support of their respective schools, as the teams were engaged in friendly rivalry.
Mitcham said the Festival was very competitive and keenly contested.
He also said the crowd was able to witness some very talented and skilful players, which comprised both sexes, who displayed good stroke-play, accurate bowling and wonderful fielding that included some spectacular catches.
However, following the elimination matches, teams St. Paul’s and Dieppe Bay had advanced to the Finals.
As explained by Mitcham, unlike the normal procedures and rules in cricket matches, the WICB/Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Festival was somewhat different but was aimed at talent spotting.
He also explained that each team comprised 10 players who batted in pairs, with each of them having the opportunity to face two overs, regardless if they were out before the overs were completed.
Mitcham further explained that each team was allotted 100 runs, but six runs were deducted for each wicket that fell. However, the runs scored by each pair were added to the remaining total.
St. Paul’s won the toss and Dieppe Bay was selected to bat.
With accurate bowling and sharp fielding, Dieppe Bay lost seven wickets and could have only mustered 28 runs off their allotted 10 overs. That gave them a grand total of 128 runs, but 42 were deducted for the seven wickets lost, which left St. Paul’s with a modest target of 87 to win the match.
In reply, and batting out their allotted overs, St. Paul’s tallied 71 for the loss of four wickets, thus beating Dieppe Bay by 60 runs to be crowned Champions of the 2013 WICB/ Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Festival.
The following schools and players won the following awards:
? Most Disciplined School - Bronte Welsh Primary
? Most Improved School - Dieppe Bay Primary
? Best Performing Batsman - Chevron Charles of Estridge Primary
? Best Performing Bowler - Javral Alford of St. Paul’s Primary
? Best Performing Fielder - Racheem Thomas of Beach Allen Primary
According to Mitcham, the top 40 participants coming out of the WICB/Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Programme would be engaged in a one-week advance training camp to prepare them for the transition for the WICB Grass Root Cricket Programme.
“During the one-week training camp, they will cover some of the most integral areas of their further development by expanding on the fundamentals learned during the Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Programme.
“These areas are Batting, Bowling, Fielding, Wicket-keeping, History, Knowledge of the Game and Personal Lifestyle Development,” he added.
Mitcham expressed his profound gratitude to Clarice Cotton and Education Officer Knight. He also thanked the principals, teachers and participants of the eight primary schools, the coaches, spectators and LIME for their support and cooperation in making the Festival a success.
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