SPURRED by a century from opener Tyrone Williams, Antigua Combined Schools were crowned new champions of the Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament at Kensington Oval yesterday.
The Antiguans defeated Oakville Cricket Academy of Canada by 37 runs in a keenly contested final.
Batting first, the Antigua schoolboys amassed 224 for five in their 40 overs, with Williams stroking 113 off 95 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes.
In reply, the Canadian schoolboys were restricted to 187 for seven in 40 overs as the Antigua Combined Schools earned their maiden title in the prestigious tournament.
“I am really excited. We have been coming here for over the past seven years and we have never gotten this far. It is a very good win for us as a team and it’s good for Antigua as well and good development for the young players,” said coach and former West Indies wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs.
“We attribute the success to hard work. Weeks before this tournament we put in this [hard work] and it has paid off,” added Jacobs.
Williams got excellent support from Melvin Charles, who contributed 60 runs off 109 balls, with four fours and two sixes, as they featured in a match-winning third-wicket partnership of 149 runs.
When Oakville batted, Guaranshu Sharma top-scored with 53 off 64 balls in a solid performance after replacing opening batsman Ashtan Deosammy, who was dismissed for a duck.
Sharma made hit five fours in his knock before he was run out by Kofi James.
Sanjay Stanley took the place of opener Mikayle Riley, who fell for 22 and went on to make 42 runs off 63 balls before he was caught and bowled by Jedidiah Martin.
Afterwards, there was a steady fall of wickets with Marcus Mandu being bowled by Martin while Neil Johnson was caught by Hughan Tonge off Martin, who took two for 29 in an economical eight-over spell to be Antigua’s most successful bowler.
Summarised scores
Antigua Combined Schools 224-5 in 40 overs (Tyrone Williams 113, Melvin Charles 60, Hughan Tonge 15; William Thomas 2-37). Oakville Cricket Academy 187-7 in 40 overs (Gauranshu Sharma 53, Sanjay Stanley 42, Mikayle Riley 22, William Thomas 17 n.o., Mtthew Nandu 14 n.o., Denniel Griffiths 11). Antigua Combined Schools won by 37 runs. (RG)