First-time finalists Dover Juniors are favoured to defeat three-time defending champions Fusionz Boutique Passage United in today’s highly-anticipated final of the fourth annual Inspire Sports/National Sports Council Under-13 Cricket Competition at the 3Ws Oval starting at noon.
After reaching the semi-finals on all three previous occasions, this could be Dover’s year to lift the title as Passage United might somehow be under pressure to keep the trophy in the city in the 35 overs-a-side encounter.
After going unbeaten in the first three years, they lost two matches this season and had some very close calls in others.
Come what may, full credit must be given to their coach Richard Clarke and his support staff. They began the tournament in a rebuilding phase, having lost nine members who played in last year’s final.
Micah Thornhill, who holds the key for them with his off-spin, and Mohammed Lokhat are the two that have returned from the final eleven. There are a couple others, who had a game or two along the way.
When they were down and almost out in the quarter-final against YMPC Juniors, Thornhill delivered the most important spell of his young career and claimed five for 23 to give his side a very tense one-run win. His 20 wickets make him the leading wicket-taker in competition leading into the final.
After an early scare in the semi-final against Counterpoint Wanderers Juniors, Passage United kept their cool and won easily in the end by five wickets. The pair of captain Jherad Morris- Sealy and Kilano Brathwaite, who had a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 42 in the semi-final, will again have another vital role to play. They will also depend on the likes of left-arm spinner Shakke Marshall with 16 wickets and the versatile Ajani Waterman.
Dover Juniors, with the experience of five national under-13 players in the line-up, have played unbeaten so far and stormed into the final with comprehensive victories over Banks Juniors and St Philip Juniors in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively.
Limar Pierce, the tournament’s best all-rounder with 366 runs, including a competition record highest ever of 169, was Player of the Match on both occasions. The tall off-spinner has also weighed with 12 wickets.
