NAGICO-LICA Cricket One Day Tournament
Fight for Semifinal Spots Increases.
By Rawle Nelson
In Photo seated left to right: NAGICO's Marketing Manager, Jasmine Payne; NAGICO's Managing Director, Mr. Eric Ellis; President of LICA, Mr. Gregory Shillingford and President of the St. Kitts Cricket Association, Mr. Ingleton Liburd.
Reigning LICA three day champion Antigua have been assured of a semifinal spot in this year's LICA NAGICO Sponsored One Day Competition after convincingly winning their five games thus far in this year's competition.
The competition which is being contested by eight teams has seen this year's format changing with rounds three to seven being staged in St Kitts. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals in St Maarten where the finals will also be played. St Kitts is the defending champions having defeated five time champions Antigua in last year's finals.
Leading the points standing is Antigua with ten points from their five matches. Anguilla has eight with four wins and one loss. St Kitts sits at number three with seven from three wins, two losses and one no results.
Standing at number four is Nevis from three wins and two losses while number five is Montserrat with five points which includes two wins, two losses and one no results. St Maarten is at number six with BVI with both teams with only a couple of points from one win, four losses and occupying the cellar position is USVI who have lost all of their matches.
Antigua is the only team that is assured of the semifinal thus far. Anguilla would like to win another game to cement their position while defending champions St Kitts will be looking to win their remaining two matches thus ending on 11 points; this will certainly guarantee them a semifinal berth.
While with another two points it means that Anguilla will have a total of ten points thus ensuring that they too get into the semifinals as well. Should St Kitts win their remaining two games they will end on eleven points ensuring that the defending champions gets in to the semifinal so as to defend the title they won last year.
President of the Leeward Islands Cricket Association, Gregory Shillingford noted that he is satisfied with the level of competition noting that the overall commitment and dedication to the games is very commendable. "I am satisfied with the general standard of this year's competition as I have recognized hat the guys are all upbeat and excited about doing well in this year's competition,"he said.
He added, "I must say that the commitment and dedication is refreshing and encouraging, however it is evident that Antigua has been doing really well this year but I am sure that a number of teams will be going out top defeat them thus preventing Antigua from winning the NAGICO'S Cup".
Shillingford pointed out that getting into the semifinal is not a straight forward affair and most of the teams know that the next two matches holds the key to whether they advance or go home" at this stage of the competition everything becomes very competitive as everybody is trying to get into the semifinals therefore nothing would be taken for grand from here. Its do or doe for some of the teams," he declared.