CUL DE SAC--Two of the most powerful and respected cricket teams on St. Maarten are set to clash in a crucial contest this weekend that will decide who goes forward in the inaugural Prime Pepsi Knockout Tournament.
When the NAGICO Cricket Club and the ELECTEC Lucians United face off on Sunday at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark, a huge dent will be made in the history of the losing team. With both teams sporting a rich vein of history that span from a decorated showcase to bragging rights, the loser will for the first time in local competition not feature in the final four teams in a tournament.
A NAGICO/Lucians cricket match is always a highly dramatic event. This weekend's is likely to be no different with both teams expected to fight toe to toe to the finishing line. The Lucians who are three-time local Twenty20 champion and have a huge and boisterous fan base, will settle for nothing less than a win.
However, most cricket pundits who have watched the Lucians play in the last year believe they are at the end of their illustrious years. The core of the team is made up of players who have been there from the glory years that date back more than 20 years.
Captain Fitzroy Melius, fast bowler Terry James, opening batsmen Peter Edwards, Elias Aristhee and Presley Arnaud and witty leg spinner Elias Josephat are all players who are automatic picks for the St. Maarten Masters team. But never bet against the stalwarts, most of whom are as fit as a fiddle and are capable of competing against the more youthful and nimble NAGICO players.
In NAGICO's last match against the B&C Spartans, which they lost, 10 of the 11 players were either current or past national players. NAGICO Captain Lionel Ritchie is also the national skipper.
Both teams have one loss, the Lucians by default when they failed to show up against the WINAIR Conquerors and NAGICO against the Spartans.
A winner for this match is not easy to call especially since both teams have not been scoring convincing victories recently. The Lucians barely beat the Mary's Boon Strikers while NAGICO's batsmen, apart from Stephen Evans, are yet to show some real spark.
The overseas player for the Lucians is Maxford Pipe from the British Virgin Islands while the local insurance team could choose from either Tonito Willet or Esroy Powell of Nevis and St. Kitts, respectively. The teams will be looking to their overseas players to make a big impact in this match. The Lucians badly need theirs to perform with bat and ball for when Willet scored naught and did fine with the ball, NAGICO lost.
The first ball is scheduled to be bowled at 9:30am in the 50 overs per side affair.
Meanwhile, in the B-Division, La Savanne Cricket Club is set to go up against Shop-4-Less Everest from 1:00pm, today. This match was washed out earlier in the competition.
