Whalers win inaugural SVG Emancipation Cricket Festival

The Grenadine Whalers beat the Kingstown Kings by 22 runs on Sunday night in the final of the inaugural SVG Emancipation Cricket Festival on the back of Andre Spiceman Fletcher’s scintillating unbeaten 124 off 66 balls at the Arnos Vale Ground.

The Grenadian international cricketer treated St Vincent and the Grenadines to a batting spectacle under lights to dismiss the Kesrick Williams-led crowd favourites Kingstown Kings in a high-scoring thriller.

Asked to bat first, the Whalers racked up 216 for five in their 20 overs, before restricting Kings to 194 for eight in their allotment in a final which saw over 400 runs scored.

During the innings interval, members of the West Indies 1975 World Cup winning team were honoured by the country in recognition of the 50th anniversary of their achievement.

The biggest announcement of the night came when St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves proclaimed that Parliament decided to bestow the country’s citizenship upon the 12 surviving players of the squad.

Sir Clive Lloyd, Sir Gordon Greenidge, Sir Andy Roberts, Deryck Murray, Alvin Kallicharan, and Collis King were on hand to receive their commemorative Emancipation emblems from Gonsalves.

The cricket emblem depicts a ball about to settle in unshackled hands having broken the chains of slavery and colonialism.

Lloyd, often said to be the greatest captain ever, spoke on behalf of the legends and thanked the country for its hospitality, generosity and recognition over the Emancipation weekend.

Desron Maloney of the Kingstown Kings lit up the second innings with 41 from 18 balls, but in the end it was Asif Hooper who closed the final chapter with his four wickets for 30 runs in four overs to hand Whalers the inaugural title.

Whalers skipper Jomel Warrican, who grew up in Barbados though he was born in St Vincent, detailed his experience in the competition.

“It’s a special feeling being back home in your country and playing in front such a big crowd. It was an amazing feeling. To come out victorious as well made it even more special. Words can’t explain how I feel right now,” said the Vincentian-born 33-year-old.

“Funny enough I was born in St Vincent, but I never played a cricket game in St Vincent until I was in my 20s. Growing up here I left when I was 10, I moved to Tortola then I moved to Barbados at age 12,” said Warrican.

The left-arm spinner also touched on the importance of the blend of international players and local cricketers in the competition which was played across four nights.

“Very important. To share experience, to share knowledge as well about how it is at the higher level. Also, just for the fellows to have fun and learn from the guys, just being around the guys is a special feeling for the locals,” said Warrican who hopes the tournament can grow with a regional aspect.

“I want it to get bigger and bigger, and to continue to support the local cricketers, but the most amazing thing is the international players that came in. Also, if you could make it even a more regional thing. For example, the winner of BIM10 or the winner of Grenada T10 league and just have a mixture of competition happening among the different islands.” (RW)