Rivals Cricket Lovers and Ball Players shared major honours as stumps were drawn on a successful 2015 SIS California Women's Windball Cricket League with its closing-day competition and presentation at Macaulay Park, California on Saturday.
The two clubs were the dominant teams during the season, with each capturing two of the four competitions at stake and taking runners-up positions in the other two. They also took the majority of the individual player awards.
Cricket Lovers enjoyed their most successful season since their entry in the league 10 years ago, capturing the prestigious league championship for a cash prize of $10,000 and a massive trophy. They were also winners of the opening-day round-robin competition ($1000). Based in Arouca, Cricket Lovers were runners-up in both the Knock-Out competition, taking home $2,000 and the final-day three-over competition.
Ball Players, who were edged for the league championship by a marginally lower run rate, received $6,000 for their second place. However, they turned back their main rivals in the Knock-Out final, capturing the first prize of $4,000. Having played second fiddle to Cricket Lovers in the opening day round-robin final, Ball Players exacted a measure of revenge with victory in the closing-day three-over competition on Saturday, collecting a cash prize of $1000. They also won the award for Best Uniformed Team, while ace all-rounder Amanda Samaroo captured the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Before the presentation of cash prizes and trophies, Barry Ramroop of Super Industrial Services (SIS) said the California-based company was happy to partner with the California women's cricket league for the 2015 season since they were heavily involved in the development of sporting activities within their "home community".
Wilton 'Flex' Griffith, the league's founder and president, thanked SIS for their "massive contribution" in making the season a very successful one. "Running a competition like this takes a lot of money and we owe a debt of gratitude to our sponsors. I must also thank the players, their management and coaching teams, for a very exciting season with top-class performances. We are planning some innovations next year since we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary as a league in 2016," Griffith said.
Batting first in the closing-day three-over competition, Cricket Lovers were restricted to a score of 16 for the loss of five wickets. Ball Players reached their target of 17, losing just one wicket.
2015 HONOUR LIST
League Championship
1 Cricket Lovers
2 Ball Players
3 Players
4 Victors X1
Knock-Out Competition
1 Ball Players
2 Cricket Lovers
3 Tamana United
Opening-Day Round-Robin
1 Cricket Lovers
2 Ball Players
Closing Day 3-Over
1 Ball Players
2 Cricket Lovers
Team and Individual Awards:
Most Valuable Player (MVP): Amanda Samaroo (Ball Players)
Best Uniformed Team: Ball Players
Highest Team Score: Ball Players (111 for 5)
Highest Individual Score: Britney Cooper (Players) and Sumintra Ramsawak (Players) � 41 not out
Most Wickets: Jinnel Charles (Cricket Lovers) � 13
Best Wicketkeeper: Jinnel Charles (Cricket Lovers)
Best Catch: Sonia Phagoo-Jules (Trinland)
Most Sixes: Sumintra Ramsawak (Players) � 7
Most Fours: Felicia Walters (Base Girlz) � 6.