Third time lucky for Carlton Juniors.
The Black Rock boys clinched their first title in the sixth annual Inspire Sports/National Sports Council’s Under-13 cricket tournament yesterday.
They defeated Fusionz Boutique Passage United by 19 runs in a low-scoring affair in excellent conditions.
It was sweet revenge for Carlton Juniors who had lost both their previous finals to Passage United. After taking the championship in the first three years, Passage United have now lost the other three.
Needing what appeared to be a meagre 115 to win from 35 overs, Passage United were surprisingly dismissed for 95 in 22.5 overs.
Player Of The Match Amari Waithe had a telling all-round impact. He followed up his crucial 22 with three for 23 from seven overs.
Passage United were under pressure from early, as medium-pacer Kai Rollins took a wicket in the first and fifth overs. Corey Hoyte was bowled essaying a big drive and Indal Persaud was trapped leg before.
Off-spinner Waithe then prised out Shemar Persaud and Rivaldo Clarke off successive deliveries and Passage United limped to 49 for four. Dasani Griffith battled away to 26 from 36 balls including three fours, before he was bowled by Waithe.
At 59 for seven, Thierry Walcott and 11-year-old Parkinson Memorial school first form female student Aaliyah Alleyne kept Passage United’s hopes alive posting 31 for the eighth wicket.
Walcott made 18 but was run out by a direct hit at the non-striker’s end after he pushed firmly to mid-on off the final ball of Waithe’s spell.
The end came when Alleyne was well caught low down at short mid-wicket. Rollins and Nicholas Austin took two wickets each for 14 and 20 respectively.
Earlier, Carlton Juniors were limited to 114 for nine. Left-arm spinner Vashdeo Persaud claimed five for 17 from five overs.
After the early loss of the openers, Waithe and Justin Moore added 52 for the third wicket in 91 balls.
Persaud made the breakthrough when Moore on 20, missed one of full length and was bowled. In the next over Waithe was caught low down at cover off Walcott’s first ball.
Savio Fergusson and Zidane Clarke put on a patient fifth-wicket partnership of 34 in nine overs. Persaud had a double-strike in the penultimate over of the innings bowling both Fergusson (19) and Jaden Broomes in consecutive balls. He also took two wickets in the final over when Rivaldo Clarke effected two stumpings.