RAIN AND WET CONDITIONS prevented more schools from joining the five which have already qualified for the play-offs of the Guardian General Herman Griffith Primary Schools' Cricket Competition.

Ignatius Byer, Hilda Skeene Primary, Bayleys, St Gabriel's and St Christopher have all advanced to the next round. Several groups are very competitive, like Zone B1 which has Cuthbert Moore, aSt Judes, St Luke's Brighton and St Matthews all on six points.

Zone A2 is also close, with St Andrew's, St Bernard's and Hillaby Turner's Hall within two points of each other.

To date, two centuries have been scored. Danny Chesham of St Gabriel's has the highest score of 187 not out and Jarion Hoyte of Bayleys 107. Chesham also has an unbeaten knock of 75 against St Cyprian's.

Limar Pierce of Bayleys has scores of 94 not out against St Philip Primary and 88 not out against Reynold Weekes. Jared Corbin of Cuthbert Moore has a top score of 90 while West Terrace's Jared Morris-Sealy has 83 not out against Holy Innocents and 86 not out against Eden lodge.

Among the bowlers, Mical Stuart of Roland Edwards has best figures of seven wickets for two runs and Tyler Small of St Mary's has seven for eight, including six wickets in one over.

Felippe Diaz of Grantley Prescod has six wickets for eight runs and Davion Roach of Ignatius Byer six for nine, according to figures supplied by the National Sports Council (NSC).

"We have had some outstanding individual performances and some very high team scores. Teams scoring over 225 runs off 25 overs is a lot of runs in any cricket," said NSC assistant director Adrian Donovan.

"I think a lot of the boys are now better prepared because a number of them are in junior cricket programmes on Saturday mornings in clubs across the island. With more clubs having junior programmes, our cricket can only get better."

Donovan said there were avenues for players to reach the next level, including the Under-13 club competition which will be held in January. The most promising players are also sent to the NSC Development Programme where they get the opportunity to represent Barbados before being released to the Barbados Cricket Association at the Under-15 level.

This year, the NSC will be hosting a quadrangular tournament from December 8 to 20 featuring neighbours Trinidad and Tobago, an All-Star OECS team from the last St Kitts regional festival, champions Barbados and a development squad. (SAT)

Points Standings

Zone A1: Ignatius Byer Primary 10 points, All Saints Primary 6, Roland Edwards 4, Gordon Greenidge 4, St. Alban's Primary 2, Boscobel Primary 0, St. Lucy Primary 0, Selah Primary 0

Zone A2: St. Andrew's Primary 8, St. Bernard's Primary 6, Hillaby Turners Hall 6, St. Elizabeth Primary 2, Mount Tabor Primary 2, St. Margaret's Primary 2, Chalky Mount Primary 2, St. Silas Primary 0

Zone B1: Cuthbert Moore 6, St. Judes Primary 6, St. Lukes Brighton 6, St. Matthews Primary 6, St. John's Primary 4, St. George Primary 0, Workman's Primary 0, Ellerton Primary 0

Zone B2: Charles F. Broome 8, Luther Thorne Memorial 8, George Lamming Primary 4, Deacon's Primary 4, St. Angela's School 4, Belmont Primary 2, St. David's Primary 2, Wills Primary 0

Zone C1: Hilda Skeene Primary 10, Bayleys Primary 8, St. Martins Mangrove 4, Reynold Weekes 2, St. Catherine's Primary 2, St. Mark's Primary 0, St. Philip Primary 0

Zone C2: St. Gabriel's School 8, St. Christopher Primary 8, St. Winifred's School 6, St. Cyprian's Boys' 0, Grantley Prescod 0, Milton Lynch Primary 0

Zone D1: Wesley Hall Juniors 6, St. Stephen's Primary 6, St. Mary's Primary 4, Grazettes Primary 0, St. Giles Primary 0

Zone D2: West Terrace Primary 6, Sharon Primary 4, Eden Lodge Primary 4, Holy Innocents Primary 0, Welches Primary 0