U-15 cricket semis today

A PLACE in the final of the most prestigious cricket competition amongst local schools will be at stake when the semi-finals of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) LIME Under-15 Championship bowls off today at noon.Two former champions, Combermere and Lodge, meet at Beckles Road, while Deighton Griffith, winners in 1998, oppose Garrison at Waterford. Garrison are still searching for their first title at this level.Defending champions Combermere’s line-up includes the likes of Barbados Under-15 players Chad Williams and Demar Thorne. Left-arm spinner Williams, who took a ten-wicket haul in last year’s final, has captured 23 wickets so far and fast bowler Thorne has nine wickets.The side is led by consistent all-rounder Matthew Jones, who has scored 226 runs and taken 27 wickets as a left-arm spinner.Key players  The other key players are batsmen Shaquille Jones and Leniko Boucher. Boucher has hauled in 14 dismissals including six catches and eight stumpings. Lodge will be spearheaded by pacy left-arm fast bowler Tarik Shorey, who has collected 27 wickets. He will be supported by medium-pacer Romario Brathwaite (17 wickets) and leg-spinner Jamar Bovell (16). Batting-wise, Shomari Taylor’s 129 runs are the most. When the two sides met in the preliminaries, Combermere gained first innings points.At Waterford, the contest between last year’s losing finalists Deighton Griffith and Garrison, who have reached this stage for the first time since 2000, should be also keenly contested. Deighton Griffith’s reliable Kyle Sargeant is one of the leading all-rounders in the competition, hitting 291 runs and capturing 26 wickets with his leg-breaks. Off-spinner Nicholas Knight (16 wickets), all-rounder Karon Bolden, Rasheed Wharton, and Akeem Harris are all key players.Highest scorerGarrison boast of the competition’s highest run scorer – Jafari Toppin. The Barbados Under-15 batsman has amassed 384 runs including two centuries, with a best of 158 not out at an outstanding average of 128.00. In addition, his medium-pace has earned him 17 wickets and he has 11 catches. Although not as dominating, others like Makeil Nurse, Hakeem Gomez, and Theo Gaskin have chipped in at vital stages. Female leg-spinner Shaquana Quintyne could be a threat. The national senior Barbados player has taken four five-wicket hauls at this level. Garrison have maintained the nucleus of the team which won the BCA Under-13 title in 2008.In the event that there is no play on either of the first two days, Friday has been set as reserve day.  The final is set for August 10 to 12 at the LIME ground in Wildey.