The West Indies will enter the third and final ODI against South Africa on Tuesday with an opportunity to complete a series win over the hosts for the first time.

Interim Head Coach of the West Indies Senior Men’s team Andre Coley says the group are in a good place mentally ahead of the decisive game.

“Every game brings new possibilities. We are in a very good space mentally and we are happy with our preparation,” he said in a press conference on Monday.

“We are just making sure we are ready for this game. We will have to see the conditions and work out the best approach. We have been taking it on a match-by-match basis so we are in a good place and have had good plans,” Coley added.

The tourists went 1-0 up in the series thanks to an excellent batting display, including an unbeaten century from Shai Hope in his first innings as ODI captain.

Coley, while being pleased with the team’s exploits with the bat, hopes other batsmen can go deep into the innings after getting starts.

The Windies amassed 335-8. While Hope made 128*, Brandon King (30), Kyle Mayers (36), Nicholas Pooran (39) and Rovman Powell (46) all got starts and failed to kick on.

“It was satisfying. Firstly, getting a total of 300 plus on the back of Shai’s hundred batting through the innings. We had significant partnerships,” he said.

“It would still have been good to see more batters go on from their starts but very encouraging signs, nonetheless,” Coley added.

On the bowling front, Coley did not make much of the fact that South Africa got off to a fast start, putting it down to the state of the game.

“Chasing a total like that, they wanted to make the powerplay count. We expected that. That is the nature of the game,” he said before acknowledging how well his team responded to the early onslaught.

“We were put under pressure quite early and I thought we responded well. Kyle (Mayers) got that key wicket of Quinton (De Kock) who was going well for them. As the innings progressed, we were able to respond and, in the end, we ended up with a comfortable win,” he added.

The game is scheduled for 3:00 AM Jamaica Time (4:00 AM ECT).

The Guyana Harpy Eagles have an 11.2-point lead at the top of the 2022/23 West Indies Championship table heading into round four starting on Wednesday.

Guyana, who won five straight regional four-day titles from 2015-2019, have two wins and a draw from their three games to lead the table with 49 points.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes find themselves second on 37.8 points thanks to a win and two draws, a similar record to the Leeward Islands Hurricanes who are third with 34.2 points

Three points behind the Hurricanes are reigning back-to-back champions the Barbados Pride after a win and two losses.

The Trinidad & Tobago Red Force, with two draws and a loss, are fifth on 24.8 points while the Jamaica Scorpions are way back in sixth on 15.8 points after two losses and a draw.

Round four will see the Harpy Eagles taking on the Jamaica Scorpions at Providence, the Leeward Islands Hurricanes taking on the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force facing the Barbados Pride at the Queen’s Park Oval.

NCAA National Indoor 60m and 200m champion Julien Alfred has set her sights on the 60m world record after becoming the second fastest woman all time over the distance. She is also keen to test herself against the best female sprinters in the world.

The 21-year-old Alfred, in her final indoor season for the University of Texas ran 6.94 to win the 60m dash and took 200m gold in 22.01 at the NCAA Division 1 National Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, Texas on March 11.

Both times are the second fastest all-time behind Irina Privalova’s 6.92 and Merlene Ottey’s 21.87, respectively set 30 years ago.

The only woman to break seven seconds at the collegiate level, Alfred’s accomplished that feat three times during the season and even as her collegiate career comes to a close, she plans to continue competing indoors because she wants the 60m world record.

“I do want to go after that world record and I know some day I will get it,” she said while speaking with FloTrack, even while revealing that she did not think about the world record much prior to the NCAA finals because it induces her anxiety.

Setting two world-leading times and the second-fastest times in the indoor sprints on the same day, she said, has boosted her confidence, especially the 200m, an event that she really dislikes.

“I hate it. I am never going to like the 200m but this has really opened up my eyes as to what I can really do. This builds my confidence a bit more and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do at the international level. This is my last indoor competing for Texas so I am actually looking forward to going against the pros, competing at the professional level and see what I can do.”

Late goals from Raheem Davis and Mervin Lewis spurred league leaders Flow 4G Cayon Rockets to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over MFCR Old Road United in their the 2023 SKNFA Premier League encounter at St. Paul’s on Saturday.

The win saw Cayon Rockets maintain their 100 per cent record and their place atop the league table this season while handing Old Road’s their first loss of the season.

After a goal-less first half, Kaylon Liburd had given Old Road the lead in the 56th minute. It was a lead that seemed likely to hold until full-time until Davis scored the equalizer in the 83^rd minute. Lewis secured all three points for Cayon when he found the back of the net from the penalty spot, three minutes into stoppage time.

Assistant coach Valentine Anthony was elated at the outcome.

“We came out with the win, a very scrappy win, but nonetheless we came away with the win,” he declared afterwards.

“Our guys fought hard for 90-plus minutes and in the end, we scored a late penalty. Kudos to my guys for pulling it off.”

It was one-way traffic in the other match on Saturday as St. Paul’s United blanked Security Forces 6-0. Keithroy Freeman filled his boots with four goals scoring in the 4^th, 38^th sandwiching Vinceroy Nelson’s 30^th minute strike as St Paul’s held the ascendancy at the interval.

Freeman would add goals in the 52^nd and 77^th minutes as Justine Soleyene’s own goal served to rub salt into Security Forces’ gaping wound.

Corporate Area teams Pembroke Hall and St Patrick’s were crowned INSPORTS Primary Schools national football and netball champions, respectively, and walked away with JMD$200,000 (USD$1300) each on a rainy day at the Discovery Bay Community Centre in St Ann.

St Andrews’ Pembroke Hall Primary defeated Corinaldi Avenue Primary of St James 1-0 courtesy of substitute Nathan Hudson while Kingston’s St Patrick’s defeated defending champion Bethabara Primary of Manchester 18-15 in netball.

Both Corinaldi Avenue and Bethabara collected JMD$125,000 (USD$816) for second place.

Meanwhile, St Catherine’s Bridgeport defeated Holland Primary of St Elizabeth 3-1 for third place in football while Corinaldi Avenue beat White Horses of St Thomas 13-8 for third spot in netball. They each received JMD$75,000 (USD$490) while the fourth-placed teams got JMD$50,000 (USD$326).

Tianna Clarke of Pembroke Hall, the top female player was named MVP for the football competition and Danelia Clarke of St Patrick’s was the netball MVP.

In addition, the winning coaches received gift vouchers valued JMD$10,000 (USD$65) each.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports, Olivia Grange was impressed with the quality of play and congratulated the champions.

“Today is a special day for you,” the minister said before handing out the winners’ trophies.

“Remember, this competition saw over 200 schools starting the competitions and the fact that you are all here as the leading teams means that you have worked hard and trained hard to be here today.

“I want to congratulate Pembroke Hall for being the champion in the football competition and I want to congratulate St Patrick’s for netball. But I want to tell the others you are all winners the fact that you are here today.”

Major Desmon Brown, INSPORTS’ acting executive director noted that these competitions are all about unearthing and harnessing talents at the grassroots level.

“These schools look forward to these competitions. A lot of senior athletes came through these competitions, so it is very important. It is important that these kids have an outlet for sports and this is what it is all about,” said Major Brown.

“During Covid when we didn’t have these competitions and camps we got calls from a parent that one kid threatened to commit suicide because he had nothing to do.”

Newly appointed St Kitts and Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) Technical Advisor Claude Makélélé arrived in St. Kitts Saturday afternoon and was received by a high-level delegation at the KayanJet Lounge at the RLB International Airport.

The 50-year-old Makélélé, who as a defensive midfielder enjoyed a successful club career playing for French champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), LaLiga giants Real Madrid and many-time English Premier League champions, Chelsea, arrived on the island with his agent Sofiane Youssef.

They were welcomed by SKNFA President Atiba Harris, First Vice President Shawn White, Second Vice President Cuthbert Caines, and St. Kitts and Nevis Senior Men's National goalkeeper and captain, Julani Archibald.

The pair was also greeted by Prime Minister Dr. The Hon Terrance Drew, Sports Minister Samal Duggins, SKNFA Technical Director Lenny Taylor, SKNFA General Secretary Techell Mclean, Senior Men's National Team Manager Jamir Claxton and National Team Coach Austin Huggins.

 Makélélé, who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed his pleasure at being the new Technical Advisor.  “Football in this country is very important to me because I love this sport,” said the former player who was appointed technical mentor at Chelsea in 2019.

“It gave me many things in my life. It changed me and I want to give back.”

Prime Minister, the Honourable Dr. Drew, meanwhile, commended the SKNFA for taking this initiative of appointing Makélélé to this important role.

“This is the type of innovation, forward-thinking that we are looking for to develop sports,” Dr. Drew said. “I want to thank you for heeding the call from SKNFA to come to St. Kitts.”

The sports minister thanked SKNFA President Harris for the progress he has made in transforming football in St. Kitts and Nevis. Bringing Makélélé in as technical advisor is a step in the right direction. “We do not lack talent. We never did. We lacked the right training and expertise and to have a legend on our shores to impart his knowledge and experience, I think this is a step in the right direction,” the sports minister.

The man who was known as ‘The Octopus’ during his playing days because of his ability to cover ‘every blade of grass’ on a football field, has also served as an assistant manager at PSG and Swansea City and was a technical director at Monaco.

The Sugar Boyz are set to do battle against French St. Martin in Anguilla on March 23, after which they take on Aruba at Warner Park on March 27.

A century from Shai Hope in his first game as West Indies captain helped the tourists to a 48-run win over South Africa at Mercedes-Benz Park.

Hope hit 128 not out from 115 balls to lead West Indies to an imposing total of 335-8, their highest score against South Africa in ODIs.

His opposite number, Temba Bavuma, did even better as he managed 144 from 118 in reply, but a lack of help from elsewhere saw the Proteas fall short of the target.

Openers Brandon King and Kyle Mayers put on 67 for West Indies' first wicket before the latter hit Bjorn Fortuin (2-57) to deep midwicket to the waiting hands of Ryan Rickelton for 36.

Hope and Nicholas Pooran steadied the innings after the further losses of Shamarh Brooks (0) and King (30) with a partnership of 86 before Pooran was dismissed by Gerald Coetzee for 39, but Hope established another solid stand with Rovman Powell (46) through the middle overs.

After Jason Holder went for 15, it looked like Hope may run out of partners as Akeal Hosein (2) and Odean Smith (1) departed quickly, but Alzarri Joseph (13 not out) played a solid supporting role in the final overs as Hope clattered some more crucial runs at the end of the innings.

The Proteas' chase got off to a good start as Quinton de Kock and Bavuma provided 76 for the opening wicket before De Kock was trapped lbw by Mayers for an aggressive 48 from 26 balls.

Bavuma kept things ticking over along with Rickelton (14) and Tony de Zorzi (27), while Rassie van der Dussen (8) and Tristan Stubbs (6) exited quickly as South Africa's captain was also running out of partners.

Marco Jansen (17), Fortuin (1) and Coetzee (1) were not far behind, before Bavuma's innings was finally over when he gloved one from Joseph (3-53) down the leg side and into Hope's waiting hands, with the same duo combining to dismiss Tabraiz Shamsi for a duck to secure victory.

It's the Hope that kills you

Hope seems to thrive in the 50-over game more than any other format, averaging 50.4 with the bat in ODIs – the best of any player for West Indies in the history of the format (min. six innings) – compared to 25.0 in Tests and just 17.9 in T20Is.

The new West Indies captain's unbeaten 128 here was his 14th ODI century, which he reached by clubbing five fours and seven sixes.

Bavuma's brave riposte not enough

It will be little consolation to Bavuma that he outscored Hope, but it was still an innings worthy of acclaim from the 32-year-old.

His 11 fours and seven sixes briefly gave the Proteas a chance, but a lack of support meant he was on a hiding to nothing.

Darren Bravo and Amir Jangoo scored second innings fifties but could not prevent the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force from suffering a 143-run defeat to the Guyana Harpy Eagles on Saturday’s day four at the Brian Lara Stadium.

The Red Force started the day 106-3 and lost their fourth wicket quickly as Jyd Goolie was run out for 18 in the 48^th over with the score on 119.

Tion Webster then joined Bravo at the crease and the pair put on 25 before Webster was bowled by Veerasammy Permaul for 16 in the 55^th over.

Bravo was next to go, falling agonizingly short of his third hundred of the season when he was dismissed by Permaul for a well-made 170-ball 95 in the 61^st over.

The very next ball saw Permaul remove Imran Khan for a golden duck to leave the red Force reeling at 165-7.

Bryan Charles was next to go, falling for one with the score on 174.

Red Force were 175-8 at lunch needing a further 247 runs to win with Amir Jangoo (10) and Uthman Muhammad (0) at the crease.

Jangoo and Muhammad continued to fight after lunch until Muhammad was dismissed by Ronsford Beaton for 25 with the score on 211 in the 83^rd over.

The last pair of Jangoo and debutant Justin Manick put on a valiant 57 for the last wicket before Manick went for 22 off the bowling of Kevin Sinclair.

Jangoo ended up 50 not out as the Red Force were bowled out for 268 in 97.5 overs.

Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 off 86.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Imran Khan 4-80, Bryan Charles 3-85) and 247-6 declared off 83 overs (Kemol Savory 101*, Leon Johnson 74, Darren Bravo 2-23, Bryan Charles 2-60)

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 160 off 52 overs (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22, Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37) and 268 off 97.5 overs (Darren Bravo 95, Amir Jangoo 50*, Veerasammy Permaul 3-58, Ronsford Beaton 2-53, Keemo Paul 2-73).

The Windward Islands Volcanoes completed a dominant 181-run win over the Jamaica Scorpions on Saturday’s day four at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

Jamaica entered day four on the brink of defeat and only one ball was needed on Saturday as Shermon Lewis dismissed Nicholson Gordon for two to complete his fourth five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and secure the win for the Windwards, with Jamaica being bowled out for 233 in 99.1 overs.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)

Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) and 233 off 99 overs (Aldane Thomas 55, Abhijai Mansingh 50, Derval Green 48, Shermon Lewis 5-22, Justin Greaves 2-42, Larry Edward 2-65).

Jamaican superstar Jhaniele Fowler was at her dominant best to help the West Coast Fever win a dramatic rematch of the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball League grand finale over the Melbourne Vixens at the RAC Arena in Perth on Saturday.

The end of the first quarter saw the Fever enjoy a 17-12 lead before the Vixens won the second by one to reduce the halftime deficit to four, with the Fever leading 32-28.

The third quarter saw the Vixens chip into the lead a little more to set up a tense fourth quarter with the score now being 48-46 in favour of the Fever.

The teams fought to the end in the final stanza, with the Fever eventually coming out 62-61 winners.

Fowler, who has won the league’s player of the year award for the past five seasons, shot a perfect 55/55 to lead the Fever to a win to kick off the defence of their 2022 title.

Elsewhere, Shimona Nelson scored 53 goals from as many attempts to lead the Collingwood Magpies to a 71-63 win over the New South Wales Swifts, for whom Romelda Aiken-George scored 30 goals from 35 attempts.

The Windward Islands Volcanoes are on the brink of a comfortable outright win over the Jamaica Scorpions in their third-round fixture at the Providence Stadium in Guyana.

In pursuit of 415 to win, the Scorpions started the day by losing opener Kirk McKenzie for just one in the fifth over with the score on seven.

Leroy Lugg, after adding a further 21 with Nkrumah Bonner, was next to go, LBW off the bowling of Justin Greaves for 15 in the 13^th over.

The third wicket fell when Bonner was dismissed by left-arm spinner Larry Edward in the 18^th over for 17.

At lunch, the Scorpions were 52-3 off 27 overs, needing a further 363 runs for victory, with captain Paul Palmer Jr and Abhijai Mansingh at the crease on 10 and 0, respectively.

Palmer was the only man to be dismissed in the post-lunch session for the Scorpions, going for 21 in the 34^th over with the score on 68.

Mansingh and Aldane Thomas combined to stage a revival for Jamaica with a 78-run fifth wicket partnership to leave the Scorpions 146-4 at tea, needing 269 runs to win. Thomas was on 43 while Mansingh was on 32.

The pair continued to provide some resistance after tea, adding a further 19 runs before Thomas was dismissed by Larry Edward for a fighting 55 off 102 balls.

Mansingh’s was next to go, LBW off Kenneth Dember for 50 to leave the Scorpions 196-6 off 82.5 overs.

The next two fell with the score on 204 in the 87^th over as Jamie Merchant (5) and Marquino Mindley (0) both fell to Sherman Lewis.

Derval Green provided some entertaining batting toward the end of the day, making 48 before he became the ninth man to go leaving the Scorpions 232-9 after 97 overs.

In the end, final pair Nicholson Gordon and Patrick Harty survived the rest of the day as Jamaica found themselves 233-9 off 99 overs at stumps, needing a further 182 runs for an unlikely win on day four.

Shermon Lewis has, so far, taken 4-22 off his 14 overs for the Volcanoes.

Scores: Windward Islands Volcanoes 217 off 60.3 overs (Alick Athanaze 81, Justin Greaves 50, Derval Green 5-30, Nicholson Gordon 2-26, Jamie Merchant 2-39) and 300 off 78.5 overs (Alick Athanaze 97, Kavem Hodge 82, Justin Greaves 33, Patrick Harty 3-63, Marquino Mindley 2-45, Nicholson Gordon 2-59)

Jamaica Scorpions 101 off 28.3 overs (Derval Green 33, Jamie Merchant 24, Justin Greaves 6-34, Shermon Lewis 2-29, Ryan John 2-38) and 233-9 off 99 overs (Aldane Thomas 55, Abhijai Mansingh 50, Derval Green 48, Shermon Lewis 4-22, Justin Greaves 2-42, Larry Edward 2-65).

Kemol Savory made his maiden first-class hundred as the Guyana Harpy Eagles and Trinidad & Tobago Red Force set up an interesting final day in their third-round fixture at the Brian Lara Stadium.

Friday’s day three started with Kemol Savory and skipper Leon Johnson at the crease aiming to put the Harpy Eagles further in control of the game.

The morning session saw them do just that as score was 96-3 off 34 overs at the start of the day and, by lunch, the pair added a further 91 runs to have the Harpy Eagles 187-3 after 65 overs, enjoying a healthy 351-run lead with Savory was not out on 76 while Johnson was on 54.

The post-lunch session was equally fruitful for the Harpy Eagles. Johnson eventually fell for 74 before Savory eventually brought up a maiden first-class hundred, finishing 101 not out off 222 balls as Guyana declared on 247-6 setting the Red Force a target of 412 for victory.

At the tea break, the Red Force were 5-1 after five overs. Jeremy Solozano was the man to fall for a nine-ball duck.

The Red Force lost two further wickets after tea with Keagan Simmons (8) and Jason Mohammed (13) both falling to Keemo Paul.

At stumps, the Red Force were 106-3 off 39 overs, requiring a further 306 to win, with Darren Bravo on 63 and Jyd Goolie on 14.

Keemo Paul has, so far, taken 2-38 off 10 overs for the Harpy Eagles.

Scores: Guyana Harpy Eagles 324 off 86.3 overs (Kevin Sinclair 69, Leon Johnson 62, Anthony Bramble 56, Keemo Paul 46, Imran Khan 4-80, Bryan Charles 3-85) and 247-6 declared off 83 overs (Kemol Savory 101*, Leon Johnson 74, Darren Bravo 2-23, Bryan Charles 2-60)

Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 160 off 52 overs (Jason Mohammed 50, Jyd Goolie 22, Ronsford Beaton 4-31, Veerasammy Permaul 3-36, Keemo Paul 3-37) and 106-3 off 39 overs (Darren Bravo 63*, Jyd Goolie 14*, Keemo Paul 2-38).