Kingston Wharves U-15 off and running

The 21st annual Kingston Wharves-sponsored National Under-15 Competition is now off and running, following its launch on Monday at the Elletson Road Police Station cricket ground.

The competition, which has been a breeding ground for national youth cricketers, will this year be held in two phases, with the first phase being an inter-parish showdown, and the second an inter-county equivalent.

During the inter-parish phase, each team will get a bye in each of the five rounds as the parishes play in the counties, with Kingston and St Andrew contributing two teams. Cornwall is the defending champion.

Overall there will be 15 teams competing at the parish level, with the 15th being Portmore.

The competing teams in Surrey - Kingston/St Andrew 'A' and 'B', St Thomas, Portmore and Portland; Middlesex - St Ann, Clarendon, Manchester, St Mary and St Catherine; and Cornwall - Trelawny, St Elizabeth, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

Developing cricket

Grantley Stephenson, CEO of Kingston Wharves, in delivering the sponsor's remarks, said his company had no hesitation in continuing to sponsor the competition because "it has continued to achieve a number of objectives, including the further development of cricket skills, instilling discipline, strengthening concentration, fostering sportsmanship and camaraderie among the young cricketers".

Rain affected a number of Monday's opening day matches including the featured match between Kingston and St Andrew 'A' and St Thomas at Elletson Road Police Station.

Kingston & St Andrew 'A', after winning the toss, made 145 for 7 off 39 overs. Captain Jamboree Martin scored 49 not out against Carl Reid, 2-31, and Rhino Sinclair, 2-33.

St Thomas, in their reply, reached 12 without loss in the second over when the rains came.