CUL DE SAC--St. Maarten U15 cricketers lost their nerves and then held their nerves to complete a dramatic two wicket win against Montserrat in the Leeward Islands Cricket Board U15 tournament at the Caribe Lumber Ballpark on Sunday.
Set 87 to win in 33 overs, after rain reduced the match, St. Maarten young cricketers prevailed for the nail biting win.
Montserrat was inserted by the home team and posted 131 all out in 31.3 overs.
St. Maarten's response looked on course at 58 for two in the 14th over and within touching distance at 71 for three in the 19th over.
The home team; thereafter, spectacularly lost five wickets for eight runs as the guests found their way back into the match.
Nathan Edwards who batted solidly for 22 off 43 (1x4) was caught and bowled with the score on 71 and then the collapse began. Rondell Longville, better known as Amigo went for six off 15 balls (1x4) with the score on 72, Michael Palmer was dismissed for five off five balls (1x4) with the score on 76, Captain Nickhilesh Raghubir was ran out for naught with the score on 77 and Chamiqueko Landefort was dismissed for three off eight balls with the score on 79.
At that point, the eight runs to win felt like a uphill task for the remaining batsmen but Amarlie Harris (2) and Edmond Pieters (1) blocked the good balls and benefitted from wides during their nervy stay at the crease.
With two more runs to win, off spinner Clinton Reese bowled two wides to send the St. Maarten youngsters into a frenzy as they celebrated their second win of the weekend.
The best batsman for Montserrat was Reese with stylish 58 off 67 balls (5x4).
The best bowler for the host team was off spinner Raghubir with three for 26 off 8.3 overs and left arm Amarlie Harris with three for 37 in 10 overs.
On Saturday, St. Maarten defeated the British Virgin Islands (BVI) by 24 runs. Set 136 to win in 50 overs, the BVI were bowled out for 112 in 16.4 overs.
For St. Maarten, Chamiqueko Landefort top scored with 29 off 36 balls (3x4). The other batsmen in double figures were Nathan Edwards with 21 off 36 balls (4x4) and Captain Nickhilish Raghubir with 10 off 19 balls (1x4).
The best partnership of the inning was 38 for the fifth wicket between Edwards and Raghubir.
St. Maarten was gifted a healthy 55 extras by the visitors.
Captain of BVI with Trent Olive was the best bowler for the losers with five for 22 off six overs.
BVI's response was restricted by spin bowlers Amarius Harris with four for 31 in seven overs and Davenand Singh with three for 24 in six overs.
Olive with 38 off 68 balls (4x4) was the leading scorer for his team.
The other batsmen to score more than 10 runs were Heresh Banthia 17 off 32 balls (2x4) and Jerome Pereira with 11 off 16 balls (4x4).
St. Maarten's next match in the tournament is on April 12 against Antigua and Barbuda in Anguilla. The youngsters from the Friendly Islands will play their last match April 13 against Anguilla in Anguilla.
