It’s?expected to be a ding-dong battle today when Alexandra and Nicholls Baking Combermere meet for the third time in a Barbados Cricket Association’s (BCA) LIME Under-15 cricket final at Wildey.
Combermere, the defending champions, have won six titles and will be making their tenth finals appearance.
They defeated Alexandra in their first meeting in 2006, but Alexandra stormed back one year later to beat the lads from Waterford, leaving the matchups tied 1-1 heading into today’s final.
Speaking to MIDWEEKSPORT yesterday, Alexandra coach, Renaldo Parris, said the boys were eagerly looking forward to today’s game.
“The boys are pretty confident and they have peaked at the right time,” he said.
“Man for man, the teams are matched pretty [eenly], so it will come down to who plays the best cricket during the three days.”
He recalled that during their encounter in the preliminary rounds, Combermere had gained first innings points.
However, he said they had learnt a lot during that match and were now ready to make “wrong things right”.
Combermere’s coach, Roddy Estwick, said with this being their sixth successive Under-15 finals appearance, the team was in high spirits.
“We aren’t putting too much pressure on the boys, because we just want them to go out there and execute,” he added.
“Being in a finals isn’t anything new for them, and it’s about them going out and showcasing their talents.”
Estwick said he was very proud of the team’s accomplishment on reaching the final after missing several of key players who were away on national duty.
“We were missing four key players and that obviously made the job a bit tougher.
“But the boys came together and played as a team, and now, hopefully, they can finish the season on a winning note,” he added.
In the semi-finals, Combermere took first innings over Easy Bake St Leonard’s, while Alexandra defeated Queen’s College by nine wickets.
First ball is at noon.
The umpires are Dalton Holder and Henderson Collymore.
Teams:
Alexandra (from): Keemar Burrowes (captain), Jherard Morris-Sealy, Brendan Johnson, Shaquane Cave, Joshua Bishop, Shacolby Corbin, Deshawn Toppin, Jaden Edmund, Jevon Rock, Rikeem Headley, Micah Boyce, Kaneil Rouse, Nico Blackman, Savio Fergusson. Coach: Renaldo Parris.
Combermere (from): Nagee Holder (captain), Thaddeus Chase, Reneil Smith, Shian Brathwaite, Runeko Layne, Renaldo Callender, Avery Chandler, Zidane Clarke, Indal Persaud, David Scott, Shakkae Marshall, Shaquon Waithe, Keon Jordan, Jagdeo Persaud, Kaston Stoute. Coach: Roddy Estwick.
