History will be?created today, when the young lads from Combermere and Queen’s College grace the field at Kensington Oval.
It will be the first time the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) LIME Under-15 competition final will be played at the “Mecca”. The three-day encounter will commence at noon on the first day and at 11 a.m. on the next two days.
The sides are meeting in the Cup final for the first time. It is the fourth consecutive final for two-time defending champions Nicholls Baking Combermere and their 11th overall, a record. They have also won the title an unrivalled seven times.
The competition, formerly named after BET and then Cable & Wireless, is now in its 29th year.
Queen’s College have reached this stage twice before. They triumphed in 2008 against Coleridge & Parry but they went under to Lodge in 2001.
The first innings of the match is limited to 35 overs a-side and the second innings is played under normal conditions.
The teams advanced with contrasting results in the semi-finals. Queen’s College defeated Milo Lodge by six wickets and Combermere took first innings lead against Alleyne in a draw.
With both teams unbeaten for the season, this match promises to be close.
Combermere’s batting revolves around Shian Brathwaite, fresh from a hundred (106) in the semi-final, captain Shakkae Marshall, Kofie Gilkes, Indal Persaud and David Scott. The bowling will have a quartet of off-spinners in the form of Marshall, Persaud, Zidan Clarke and Anthony Manning-Merritt.
Queen’s College’s skipper Ajani Waterman led from the front with two good innings during the semis and will be looking to sustain his form.
Other batsmen expected to feature are Nico Reifer, Mekhail Marshall, Kayode Miller and Jamahl Burke.
One Queen’s College player to look out for is left-arm swing bowler Ajani Batson, who bagged five for 28 in the first innings of the semi-final. He swings the ball back into the right handers consistently. He will share the new ball with either Ajani Ince or the other medium-pacers Reifer and Burke. Spin will come from Marshall, Deshon Mayers and Darian Trotman.
Teams:
Combermere (from): Shakkae Marshall (captain), Shian Brathwaite, Avery Chandler, Zidan Clarke, Kofie Gilkes, Indal Persaud, Lamar Springer, Anthony Manning-Merritt, David Scott, Kastun Stoute, Jonathan Doughlin, Nicholas Austin, Tryese Brathwaite, Seth Agard, Kia Rollins, Darren Cuffy.
Queen’s College (from): Ajani Waterman (captain), Nico Reifer, Mekhail Marshall, Ajani Ince, Jamhal Burke, Kayode Miller, Zaire Griffith, Ajani Batson, Kevon Hall, Micah Cumberbatch, Deshon Mayers, Grebre Marshall, Jazz Griffith, Matthew Clark, Dijon Hunte, Darian Trotman.
