Jolyon Wilson scored 61 and picked up 3 wickets to be named as Best Overall Player as VG beat Tortola by 29 runs in the WICB/Digicel Cluster cricket match. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Kadesh Talle gave Tortola a brief glimpse of victory with a well struck unbeaten 40, which was full of improvisation and hard hitting shots. Photo: Charlie Jackon/VINO

Brandon Walters showed he is a fine prospect by taking a wicket with his first ball to rock Tortola and put VG in early ascendancy. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The game played at the VG Recreation Ground forms part of the Youth Cricket Development Initiative organized by the West Indies Cricket Board across the Region and implemented in the Virgin Islands by the BVI Cricket Association.

Winning the toss, Tortola’s captain Ian Sampson decided to bowl first and would have definitely been celebrating his decision if he had held onto a swirling high catch offered early by Wilson. However, it was Wilson who benefitted from the missed chance as he went on to to score a hard hitting 61 in VG’s total of 153-6 from their 20 overs.

Taking advantage of some loose bowling, VG compiled a 50-run opening partnership with Christian Tranquille contributing 23 in support of Wilson. Yosh Banthia helped himself to a quick fire 17 and Anthony Antoine scored 13.

The pick of the bowlers for Tortola were Kadesh Talle, who finished his four overs with figures of 2 for 29. 10 year old spinner, Aiden George picked up 1 for 15 as did fellow spinner Chetram Singh whilst Sampson finished with 1 for 28 and Rafael Savoury 1 for 41.

In reply, Tortola lost Singh with the first ball of the innings bowled by Brandon Walters, who finished with 2 for 22, and never really recovered. Savoury (11) and Sampson (10) attempted to rebuild the innings, but in consequence fell behind the run rate.

Wickets then began to tumble as VG applied pressure with disciplined bowling from medium pacer Wilson (3-15) and Bisson Silchand, who bowled a tidy spell of 2-17.

Only Talle offered any real resistance, keeping Tortola in the hunt for victory with a well constructed unbeaten 40.  Tavoy Marshall (22) joined him for some late pyrotechnics but it all proved too little too late.

Talle at least had the satisfaction of hitting the last ball from Wilson for a boundary square of the wicket as the field closed in ready for celebration.

At the end of the game, Coaches Jeffrey Demming, Irving Hendrikson and Charlie Jackson handed out several awards provided by the WICB.

The Most Outstanding Wicket keeper Award went to Shamoy Thompson (Tortola), Outstanding Batsman went to Wilson (VG), the Outstanding Bowler was Talle (Tortola), Outstanding Fielder was Josh Banthia (VG) and Best Overall Player went to Wilson.

The Grassroots programme, based at HLSCC on Tortola and the Recreation Grounds on VG, is aimed at 11-17 year old boys and girls and of any ability. It is a comprehensive introduction to cricket as well as offering more specialised coaching as the participant’s progress in a safe and disciplined environment.