CUL DE SAC--Hillside Christian School is the 2019 Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Champs after dethroning the 2018 champs; Rev. John A. Gumbs (JAG) Campus in an exciting final at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark, on Friday.
Sent in to bat, the Rev. John A. Gumbs started slowly because of some tight bowling but then accelerated in the last three overs to reach 131 for one in the 11 overs per side contest.
In reply, Leandro Barry played an awesome inning of 61 not out (7x6, 1x4) to guide his team to championship honors.
He opened the batting with Captain Zack Mars to set up a solid foundation in their quest to overhaul the total.
And when Mars was dismissed for 30 (4x6, 1x4) in the third over, Dexter Marks joined Barry as the two continue a steady march towards the target.
The fielding team bowled a few tight overs in the end to lift the required run rate. In the last over, the batting team needed 10 runs to win.
But, Barry who has just been awesome for his team, slammed two sixes off the first two balls to seal the win. His winning shot triggered uncontrollable shouting and jumping from the players and their massive fan base which included parents, brothers, sisters and other well wishers.
Marks contributed a supportive 22 (2x4, 1x6).
When JAG batted, Isra-el Morton top scores with 55 (6x6, 3x4).The other main contributors were Davenand Singh with 26 (2x4, 2x6) and Nikhilesh Raghubir with 27 (3x6, 1x4).
In the final last year, JAG defeated Hillside Christian Primary but this win in 2019 is sweet revenge for the ever improving champion. In fact, they sent an early signal that they are championship material by defeating JAG Campus in an intermediate tournament in December last year.
At the presentation, the leading run scorer and leading wicket taker for each school was given a trophy.
The leading run scorer for the 2019 champions was Barry with 123 runs in five innings with a highest score of 61. Nikhilesh Raghubir was the leading run scorer for the Rev. John A. Gumbs Campus with an outstanding 259 runs in five innings with a highest score of 137 runs. For the Seventh-day Adventist Primary School, Donelle Ottley was the leading run scorer with 119 runs in five innings with a top score of 47 runs. And for the Leonald Connor Primary School, Kennion James was the leading scorer with 59 runs in five innings with a top score of 33 runs. Also, trophies were given to the player with the Most Wickets for each school.
Vanti Williams was given the trophy for the Most Wickets for the Champions, Morton for the Rev. JAG Campus, Rudemar Mc Rae for the Seventh-day Adventist Primary and Francner Fausting for the Leonald Connor Primary School.
