Jamaica Seen

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

MAN OF THE MATCH PIERS MORGAN SEALS BEEFY’S BASH WIN!

The moment Piers Morgan removes Brian Lara for a duck in Beefy's Bash, a charity match in St. Kitts ahead of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League semi-finals this week

Piers Morgan hits Brian Lara for six to help his team to a win over the West Indian's team in St. KittS

The moment of victory for Piers Morgan in Beefy's Bash against the Brian Lara XI at Warner Park, St. Kitts

Piers Morgan XI (181/4) beat Brian Lara XI (177-7) by six wickets with one ball remaining

Wednesday 13th August 2014 - Basseterre, St. Kitts: Piers Morgan was the unlikely hero as his side shocked a team captained by West Indies legend, Brian Lara, to win the 'Beefy's Bash' charity Twenty20 match as part of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League in St. Kitts.

In an entertaining match organised by Sir Ian Botham and played in front of a capacity crowd at Warner Park on Tuesday night, Morgan starred with bat and ball. In what must surely be his greatest sporting achievement, the broadcaster dismissed double-world record holder Lara for a duck, caught at mid-wicket. As if that wasn't enough, he then smashed the former West Indies captain for a six and a four in the final over of his side's run chase to seal a thrilling victory, by six wickets, with one ball to spare.

The teams were formed of a mixture of cricketing legends such as Lara, Graeme Swann, Darren Gough, Ian Bishop, Tom Moody, Roger Harper and Matthew Maynard, celebrities Piers Morgan and Marcus Mumford, lead singer of folk-rock giants, Mumford and Sons, politicians, cricket administrators and local players. Fans were treated to spectacular entertainment and comedy, with practical jokers Gough and Danny Morrison playing up to the crowd.

Former England spinner, Swann, playing for the first time since retiring from all cricket in the middle of last year's Ashes series, performed well with both bat and ball for Team Lara, helping local batsman Shane Jeffers to add 100 for the sixth wicket, and drying up the runs when he bowled. Britain's Grammy award winner, Mumford, wasn't so lucky, as his lively medium pace was dispatched to all parts of the ground. At one point, he even resorted to pleading for mercy from Jeffers, but to no avail.

Former Glamorgan and England batsman, Matthew Maynard, coach of the St. Lucia Zouks in the CPL, rolled back the years for Team Morgan with some clean hitting, but when he was dismissed with a few overs remaining, the responsibility fell to Morgan and Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel coach, Simon Helmot, to help his team get near the target. Lara brought himself on to bowl for the final over, but Morgan was to be the star, sealing a Man of the Match performance with a boundary which sparked jubilant celebrations from the former newspaper editor.

The ever-modest Morgan was keen to play down his achievements: "I got Brian Lara for a duck, then slapped him for a six and a four in the last over to win the game...and the Man of Match award. No big deal! Seriously though, for a club cricketer like me, playing in front of a crowd like this with some of the world's most legendary players is a dream come true."

Proceeds from Beefy's Bash will go to Special Olympics St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Kitts and Nevis Association of Persons with Disabilities and the Creative Youth Academy.

The semi-finals and finals of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League take place this week.

· The Limacol Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant carnival atmosphere

· The Limacol Caribbean Premier League runs from 11 July 2014 to 16 August 2014, with 30 matches taking place over 37 days. In addition, the final week of the tournament, in St Kitts and Nevis, will host a concert by hip-hop megastar, Rick Ross

· The inaugural CPL, billed as "the Biggest Party in Sport" featured six teams competing throughout the region in August 2013 – Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, Antigua Hawksbills. The Jamaica Tallawahs, captained by Chris Gayle, emerged as champions

Contact:

Antonia Graham

+1 876 564 1708

antonia@cplt20.com

Thursday, 31 July 2014

DARREN SAMMY CALLS FOR ST LUCIA ZOUKS' FANS TO BE THEIR TWELTH MAN ( - St. Lucia Zouks captain, Darren Sammy, met fans at the Digicel store in Castries ahead of three crucial home games )

Thursday 31^st July – Castries, St. Lucia


St. Lucia Zouks Captain, Darren Sammy, and all-rounder Garey Mathurin, greeted fans at the Bridge Street Digicel store in Castries ahead of their clash with the Barbados Tridents

Sammy called on the Zouks fans to “come out in their blue” and support the team as they hunt for their first victory

Darren Sammy admitted that it was crunch time for the St. Lucia Zouks this independence weekend in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League and put the call out to Zouks fans to help lift the team to victory over the Barbados Tridents at Beausejour.

St. Lucia Zouks Captain, Darren Sammy:

“Without a doubt, the Zouks fans have the most energy and enthusiasm of the Caribbean Premier League and I know that they will come out and have a great time. The fans came to the Digicel store to buy their tickets and showed us – with their encouraging words – that they still believe in us and so we are looking to put on a great show.

He continued; “We have been training hard and we plan to execute, so we are asking the fans to come out in their blue and show your support for the Zouks as we light up Beausejour tonight.”

The Zouks will be seeking to record their first win of the tournament at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds at 8pm this evening, to repay the faith of the fans and an expectant and noisy crowd. A win tonight would help the St. Lucia Zouks build some momentum into vital matches this weekend against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel on Saturday at 4pm and the Antigua Hawksbills on Sunday at 4pm.

Children under the age of 12 will have free access to the watch the game this evening in what should prove to be an exciting match. Kids must be present at the stadium box office on match day to redeem their free ticket, and they will then be directed to their designated stand.

Fans who visited the Digicel store were encouraged to get their tickets and come out to the Beausejour Cricket Grounds to enjoy exciting cricket

ENDS

About the Caribbean Premier League:

Caribbean Premier League is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. The inaugural CPL, billed as “the Biggest Party in Sport” featured six teams competing throughout the region in August 2013 – Jamaica Tallawahs, Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, Antigua Hawksbills. The Jamaica Tallawahs, captained by Chris Gayle, emerged as champions.

CPL 2014 takes place from July 11th to August 16th 2014.

TALLAWAHS GEARED UP FOR HOME GAMES WHILE HAWKSBILLS REMAIN OPTIMISTIC

Wednesday 30th July 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

The Jamaica Tallawahs are home and have three decisive encounters in front of them at Sabina Park this week – but while their first opponent, the Antigua Hawksbills, are at the foot of the table without registering a win, Jamaica Tallawahs Captain, Chris Gayle, says this does not mean it will be an easy game on Thursday.

He comments; “Cricket is such a funny sport. When teams are back against the wall they can produce their best cricket in a tournament so we must be on our guard and be ready for whatever they have to throw at us. Our aim is to win all three home matches and to add some momentum going into St. Kitts. Last year the support was fantastic and I am anticipating similar on display this time around.”

Jamaica Tallawah’s Coach, Mickey Arthur, also gave his views and stressed the need to get more wins. “We are quite pleased with where we are right now. If you told me before the tournament that we would win three games out of four on the road before coming to Jamaica, I would take that in a heartbeat. So for now, we have to ensure we get the wins at home. The winner of the group stage automatically qualifies for the final and we would like to be in that position, so it is important the intensity remains the same, and we keep working hard like we have done since we started in Grenada.”

Antigua Hawksbills Coach, Tim Nielsen, also shared some insight saying; “Having a cluster of Jamaican-born players in my team is a huge asset as they are familiar with the surface and the conditions. We have not lost heart by any means. We still have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals and we are going to press hard to get there. Who knows - a win in Jamaica may be the momentum and drive that kicks off our season. With St. Lucia in a few days’ time as well, this week is make or break for us.”

Summing up Hawksbills Captain, Marlon Samuels, said; “Results have not gone the way we wanted, however we have to back ourselves to get the result on the day. We have match winners in our team and I believe if we can have a good start tomorrow then things should fall into place for us.”

ENDS

About the Caribbean Premier League:

CPL 2014 takes place from July 11th to August 16th 2014.

Monday, 28 July 2014

FOOD FOR THE POOR PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR INNER CITY YOUTH THROUGH SUMMER BAND CAMP

Kingston, Jamaica: Thursday, July 24, 2014

All together play. Members of the clarinet section at Food For The Poor’s 2014 Band Camp were proud to play a note to demonstrate what they have so far learnt during the charity’s summer programme, which is being held at its Ellerslie Pen offices in Spanish Town. The camp started on Monday, July 21 and will culminate on Friday, August 8 with a concert where the 45 participants will get a chance to perform the skills they have garnered over the three-week period.

Youth from several inner city communities in Kingston, St Catherine and Clarendon are now participating in a Summer Band Camp organized by charity organization, Food For The Poor at its Ellerslie Pen, St Catherine headquarters. The camp which is in its sixth year, is aimed at developing and enhancing the musical skills of the children.

More than 100 youths have graduated from the programme since its inception. This year’s camp which began on Monday, July 21, comprises 45 members, ages ranging from six to seventeen years. On completion of three weeks of training, some graduates participate in their churches, community marching bands and at Food For The Poor related events. The current camp will culminate on August 8 with a concert hosted by the graduates.

Drummers in action. Jeffery Brown (left), Instructor and Food For The Poor staff member, teaches two of the participants in this year’s Summer Band Camp how to properly handle and play the snare drum during the programme at the charity’s office in Ellerslie Pen, Spanish Town. The camp started on Monday, July 21 and will culminate on Friday, August 8 with a concert where the 45 participants will get a chance to perform the skills they garnered over the three-week period.

Chakar Thompson is a second time participant in the Camp. He shared what he said was his most significant moment at Camp. “One thing that stands out is the importance of team work because we have to play with other persons in the same section so we have to learn to work together.” He continued, “When we work as a team, we are able to create good music. We also get the chance to meet people from other backgrounds and that is always good. I really enjoy this programme and it is a very good one.”

Another participant, Raeme Briscoe said, “Music inspires me. It keeps me calm and helps to control my mood. So when I am going through anything, I play music and it takes my mind off those things. Learning to play a musical instrument helps just the same way. This is a very good project.

David Mair, Executive Director of Food For The Poor had words of encouragement for the participants. “At Food For The Poor, it’s never about giving a man a fish. Instead, it’s about teaching him how to fish. Our goal is to teach social interaction, personal development, leadership skills, discipline and responsibility, ” he said.

Food For The Poor, the largest charity organization in Jamaica, partners with a number of stakeholders including churches, non-governmental and private sector organizations, children’s homes and service organizations throughout the island that deal directly with the poor to fill their most urgent needs and to encourage self-sufficiency. The work of the charity is funded by local and overseas donations.

2014 LIMACOL CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH REPORT 15

Sunday 27^th July 2014 – Port of Spain, Trinidad

Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel (137-1) beat St. Lucia Zouks (136-9) by 9 wickets with 32 balls remaining

Another fantastic crowd at the Queen’s Park Oval saw a comprehensive victory by the Trinidad &Tobago Red Steel over the St. Lucia Zouks in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League. The carnival atmosphere in the crowd spilled over onto the field as the home team easily overcame their opponents, winning by nine wickets thanks to an opening stand of 129 between Kevin O’Brien and Evin Lewis. An excellent innings from Darren Sammy was the only real highlight for the Zouks as they remained rooted to the bottom of the CPL table. The Red Steel moved clear at the top of the league as they completed victory with 32 balls to spare.

Once again the Red Steel's Samuel Badree was a difficult prospect inside the Powerplay. With an expectation that sides will make the most of the fielding restrictions, there is pressure to attack the wily leg spinner. Unfortunately those kinds of risks are not an easy prospect against someone as skilled as Badree. Johnson Charles looked to be finding some rhythm when he ran past a Badree wrong’un. He picked up the wicket of the other opener when Andre Fletcher played for turn that wasn’t there and lost his middle stump. It was the bowler’s 100^th wicket in Twenty20 cricket.

In an attempt to keep the momentum going inside the fielding restrictions, the Zouks promoted Roelof van der Merwe up the order. With a highest score of 18 since March 2013, this represented a risk, but the South African did a decent job in the pinch hitter’s role. He reached 21 before he sliced the ball into the hands of Badree on the third man boundary off the bowling of Javon Searles.

When a rebuilding effort was needed, Keddy Lesporis decided that attack was the way forward. He had hit two sixes in his innings of 20, but then tried an overambitious heave against a Dwayne Bravo yorker that he inside edged on to his stumps. That left the Zouks struggling at 70-4 at the halfway stage of their innings, and all the pressure was on Sammy to get them up to a competitive total.

Sammy should have departed LBW for five when he was struck on the pads plumb in front of the stumps by Sulieman Benn. The umpire turned down the appeal, and it was difficult to understand why. He made the most of the let off as he went on to top score for his team with 46 not out. Sammy is a finisher, with the top order failing he is not able to play with the attacking intent that makes him so dangerous.

Sammy combined with Tonito Willett for the biggest partnership for the Zouks; that it was just 27 runs shows what a stop-start affair this St. Lucia batting effort became. Willett departed for ten, caught brilliantly at mid-wicket by Ross Taylor. The ball was timed superbly and Taylor leapt to his left to claim the catch one handed.

More indifferent batting saw wickets continue to tumble. First Sohail Tanvir hit the ball straight up in the air, then Mervin Mathew and Shane Shillingford were short of their ground thanks to some lazy running. The only man that seemed to do his captain justice was Ray Jordan, who did a good job at getting Sammy back at the strikers end, even sacrificing his wicket to give the set batsman the bowling.

From the very beginning of their innings, the Red Steel made the Zouks regret their poor batting display. Fresh from recording his highest T20 score in his last match, Evin Lewis continued his brilliant form as he brought up his half century off just 24 deliveries. He finished on 77 to record his personal best in successive innings.

The game was all but lost before the half way stage of the Trinidad & Tobago innings, but the Zouks did not help themselves in the field with sloppiness and spurned chances. Debutant Ray Jordan was denied his first ever wicket in senior cricket when Mervin Mathew dropped an easy chance off Lewis on the cover boundary.

Lewis could not quite see the job all the way through to its conclusion as he was caught going for yet another six. Despite scoring 55 not out in a match winning partnership, Kevin O’Brien was very much the junior partner to Lewis in this innings. Perhaps the highlight of the Irishman’s knock was the one handed shot for six over long on, but young Lewis was the star of the show.

The evening was summed up for the St. Lucians as O’Brien was out stumped off a no ball from Shillingford. The resulting free hit saw the Red Steel score the winning runs to wrap up a resounding victory.

ENDS

About the Caribbean Premier League:

CPL 2014 takes place from July 11th to August 16th 2014.

2014 LIMACOL CARIBBEAN PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCH REPORT 13

Saturday 26^th July 2014 – Port of Spain, Trinidad

Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel (183-5) beat Jamaica Tallawahs (170-6) by 13 runs

The Jamaica Tallawahs lost their 100% record as victory for Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel saw them go top of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League table. An excellent half century from Tallawahs’ captain, Chris Gayle, was not enough to prevent his side suffering their first defeat of this year’s event. Some superb hitting from 22 year old Evin Lewis and a career best bowling performance from Kevin O’Brien set up an excellent victory for the home side.

A flying start for the Red Steel was checked by two wickets off the last over of the Powerplay. Andre Russell yorked a well set O’Brien who was looking very dangerous. After a bumper first ball that was called a wide, Ross Taylor mistimed a drive from a slower ball to Rusty Theron at mid off who caught the ball one handed as the New Zealander fell for his second duck in as many innings.

O’Brien was the only batsman that was able to go at better than a run a ball in the first half of the innings. His opening partner, Evin Lewis, hit the odd boundary but found rotating the strike hard work. At the end of the tenth over, the Red Steel had made it to 72-2. It was a decent platform, but they should have had less. The Tallawah’s fielding was sloppy, with two boundary misfields and a dropped catch costing them.

Lewis removed the shackles after the mid innings drinks break, hitting the first two balls of the eleventh over for six. Gayle was the bowler as he struggled for control in his first spell with the bowl in this year’s tournament. That seemed to ignite the fire in young Lewis as he went from 25 to his half century off just eight deliveries. He hit eight sixes in an innings of 72, his highest T20 score. He fell to the bowling of Theron, caught on the boundary trying to carve the ball over cover for yet another six.

After some indifferent fielding throughout, Andre Russell pulled off a remarkable effort in the deep. A ball was smashed over long on by Darren Bravo. Russell took off to claim the ball in mid-air. He was heading over the rope but had the foresight to throw the ball back into the field of play. It was a remarkable piece of work, but inexplicably Third Umpire Nigel Duguid decided it was a six. All the fielders and even the batsmen were shocked, and eventually the call was reversed as Gayle pleaded with the on field officials.

The younger Bravo showed some of the form that was on display from his brilliant knock in his last game, but just as he started to accelerate, he was undone by a brilliant off cutter from Theron that knocked out the batsman’s middle stump.

The home team looked set for a score close to 200 with Dwayne Bravo in form and at the crease. A fantastic nineteenth over from Russell that went for just three runs massively restricted what the Red Steel could have achieved. Both Russell and Jerome Taylor had the ball reverse swinging at the death, but Taylor could not keep things anywhere near as tight. He was hit for three sixes in the last over, two of which came from the bat of Javon Searles on his CPL debut.

Having been set just over nine an over to win, the Jamaicans were up with the rate in the first couple of overs. Fidel Edwards' second over changed that. He picked up the wicket of Chadwick Walton while conceding just one run. The other Red Steel bowlers followed suit as four overs went for just 21 runs. The start of the eighth over brought Gayle to life, hitting his first six off the 23^rd ball he had faced. In partnership with Jermaine Blackwood, the Tallawahs captain brought his side back into contention.

Gayle’s approach of playing himself in while eating up deliveries is not without risk, but when it comes off his contribution is telling. Here he was on 17 off 22 balls before he put his foot on the gas. He finished with 60 runs from 45 deliveries. Gayle has the most hundreds, the most scores over 50, the most runs and the most sixes in this format of the game. As he became the leading run scorer in this tournament, it was no surprise.

When Gayle was out caught on the boundary off the bowling of O’Brien, he may have fallen but he had given his side a chance. Those chances reduced when Adam Voges departed the next ball to leave two batsmen yet to face a ball at the crease for the visitors. With just five overs left and O’Brien bowling well in tandem with Samuel Badree, the required rate just kept climbing. Some late sixes from Russell made the result look closer than it was.

Irishman O’Brien finished with his best T20 bowling figures of 4-22 as the Jamaican side never recovered from the loss of Gayle. While defeat for the first time will be a disappointment for the Tallawahs, they are still well placed to qualify, and it would be a surprise if these two excellent teams did not meet again in the knockout stages of the tournament.

ENDS

About the Caribbean Premier League:

CPL 2014 takes place from July 11th to August 16th 2014.

Friday, 25 July 2014

SANTOKIE "HONOURED” TO BE PART OF CPL ONCE AGAIN

Friday 25^th July 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica

Santokie receiving the 'Man Of The Match' Award

Despite a last ball six that lost last night’s match for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, pacer, Krishmar Santokie is relishing this year’s CPL experience. Speaking exclusively to www.cplt20.com, the Jamaican said he is delighted to be back with the team, where with a total of 16, he was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament’s inaugural season.

“It feels great to be back with the Amazon Warriors, they are a very organised unit and I like the set up. There are also quite a number of talented players on the team and I am truly honoured to be part of this experience once again”.

Santokie who is from Clarendon, Jamaica has grown from strength to strength in his left arm bowling as he credits his appearance for the West Indies U15 team in England in 2000 as crucial to his development.

“Winning that tournament in England was truly a stepping stone in my career and it cemented in my mind that cricket is the game for me,” he reminisced. “And all these years later, I am now playing with some of the same players that I played with then, like Simmonds and Ramdin for the Amazon Warriors and Ravi Rampaul for the West Indies.”

The 29 year old has gone places in the past 12 months after taking the most wickets in CPL 2013. He was called up to the West Indies team in early 2014 vs Ireland in Jamaica and after his figures of 1-12, he soon got drafted into the Windies T20 World Cup squad that made it all the way to the semi-finals in Bangladesh.

“Taking eight wickets in the T20 World Cup and being recognised by the ICC as one of the top 12 players in the tournament was an amazing feeling. It does show that hard work pays off and I always ensure I prepare mentally before taking the field.

“I must say, I did not expect to be in the Windies T20 squad heading to the World Cup, but as always, I ensure I prepare and I’m ready and available at all times. I motivate myself to succeed and that is something I plan to continue doing for as long as I play the sport.”

Krishmar, who is the second cricketer to take a hat trick in Caribbean T20 cricket, (joining Lennox Cush of Guyana in that achievement), is also the fifth Jamaican born player to play in the IPL – an experience he describes as ‘memorable’. “While I did not play many games, it was a privilege to be and play there. The Indian people made me feel welcome and at home and I felt like it was a family in Mumbai. It is a team with a great reputation and it is an experience I will never forget.

Santokie closed his chat with cplt20.com with a message for the Guyana Amazon Warriors fans; “To the fans I say, look out for good things from the Warriors this season, we have quality players, Narine, Guptill, Hafeez, and myself who will do our best to get the job done and take home the title of CPL Champions 2014.”

Santokie (left)

ENDS

About the Caribbean Premier League:

CPL 2014 takes place from July 11^th to August 16^th 2014.