Tuesday, July 10 2012

KEONE GEORGE of the Windward Islands was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the inaugural West Indies Regional Under-17 Cricket competition, which ended in the sister isle Tobago on Saturday.

George was also named as the MVP of the Windwards team, having tallied 217 runs in four innings, at an average of 72.33, with a top-score of 81 against the Leeward Islands.

The other territorial MVPs of the week-long competition were Al Small (Trinidad and Tobago), Shavorn Moore (Leeward Islands), Jerome Jones (Barbados), Fabien Allen (Jamaica) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (Guyana), the son of West Indies batting ace Shivnarine.

Jones was adjudged the Best Bowler having claimed 14 wickets at an average of 10.21 while Jamaica’s Romain Morris was voted as the Best Wicketkeeper.

The presentation ceremony took place at the Blue Haven Hotel, Bacolet on Saturday night with Jamaica collecting the winners’ trophy after amassing 29.5 points, with Trinidad and Tobago next on 23.5 points.

The Windwards were third with 18, the same amount of points as Barbados but the Windwards earned more victories than Barbados. Guyana were fifth on 15.5 while the Leewards were rooted in last place on 4.5. At the closing ceremony, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) official Rawle Lewis congratulated all the teams and advised that players to improve on their skills as they progress to the Under-19 level.

The ex-Grenada, Windwards and Windies leg-spinner also urged the players to find the right balance between academics and sports.

And he offered his gratitude to the WICB, organisers All Sport Promotions, the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Digicel and PTSC for their assistance during the tournament.

All Sport Promotions’ marketing director Anthony Harford highlighted the future Windies talent on show and the competitiveness of the matches.

He also lauded the work done by the umpires during the matches, including the lone female umpire Lorna Kirby-Alleyne.