By: Curtis Morton
The local Inter High schools Cricket championships on Nevis commenced on Wednesday 11th February at the ET Willet Park.
The first match was preceded by a brief opening ceremony chaired by Sports Coordinator, Carl Tuckett who welcomed all of the players, including the newest team to the tournament, the Nevis Sixth Form College.
The three teams in the competition this year are therefore, CSS, GSS and the Nevis Sixth Form College.
Director of Sports, Jamir Claxton opined that the ‘conveyor belt’ taking players from Nevis to the West Indies team has become stuck and challenged the players to strive for excellence and use the tournament as a catalyst towards getting more players to the West Indies team.
President of the Nevis Cricket Association, Denrick Liburd challenged the players to be disciplined and emulate persons like Tonito Willet who has been included in this year’s CPL League and advised the young players that there is ‘money in cricket’.
He stated that with the plan of action proposed by the NCA, Nevis cricket should be making upward movements in short order.
He declared the competition officially open.
The vote of thanks was given by Mr. Fraser of the Charlestown Secondary School.
In the first match of the tournament, CSS engaged GSS in a 20 overs affair.
CSS batted first and piled up an impressive 173 for 3, on the back of 77* by Ross Powell and 40* by Jamie Cornelius.
For the GSS team, Theron Bussue got 1 wicket for 24 runs and Tiwan Prentice, 1 for 26.
GSS in response could only muster 114 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs, despite a brief cameo from Irvawn Challenger who struck a quick fire 34.
Theron Bussue scored 20.
For the CSS team, Philo Wallace got 2 for 22; Balgobin 2 for 24 and Keon Pemberton 1 for 3.
CSS won by 69 runs.