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• Westmoreland crowned Kingston Wharves U15 Cricket champions after dominant campaign

  Westmoreland has claimed the title of champion in the 33rd Kingston Wharves U15 Cricket Competition after overpowering Kensington in the final at the Ultimate Cricket Ground in Discovery Bay, St. Ann. This victory marks Westmoreland's first time as sole champion, having previously shared the title twice. They went undefeated throughout the tournament, winning all matches in the preliminary round, quarterfinals and semifinals.

  In a thrilling final match, Westmoreland’s 115 all out in 28.4 overs looked vulnerable, as Kensington posed a real threat during their chase and a lengthy rain delay added further uncertainty. However, Westmoreland’s bowling unit held firm, restricting Kensington to 77 all out in 34.4 overs, securing a 38-run victory.

  The star of the final was Westmoreland's Humario Reid, who carried the team with an impressive 80 runs from 81 deliveries. He was the only Westmoreland batsman to reach double figures, with Kensington’s Zachary Buchanan wreaking havoc on the batting lineup by taking seven wickets for just 33 runs. Andrew Lloyd also chipped in with two wickets for 32.

  Kensington's chase began positively, but they quickly lost their first wicket at 15 and never fully recovered. A steady flow of wickets left them reeling at seven for 27. After a rain delay, they briefly steadied their innings, but once their eighth wicket fell on 73, Westmoreland sensed victory. Kensington's captain Andrew Lloyd fought valiantly with a top score of 45, while Abraham Waugh contributed 14 runs, the only other batsman to reach double digits. Westmoreland’s bowling attack was led by Jemar Morgan (3 for 12), captain Ryan Littleton (3 for 23), and Davere Buchanan (2 for 17).

  Coach Grantley Reid was elated with his team’s triumph, reflecting on the journey it took to finally win the competition outright. “I am happy because we have been here before but we had to share. For the work that was put in, because the journey did not begin with this competition. Most of the boys have been to quarterfinals but we never made it through, but I knew we had the depth to win this competition and they delivered,” Reid said. He also praised Kensington's resilience, saying, “They played well to come back from where they were... They had heart. They have a young team.”

  

  Following the final, an awards ceremony recognized individual and team achievements. Humario Reid was named the MVP of the final, while Westmoreland captain Ryan Littleton was named his team’s MVP with 13 wickets and 236 runs during the competition. Kensington’s MVP, Abraham Waugh, bagged 21 wickets and scored 156 runs throughout the tournament.

  This year's Kingston Wharves U15 competition recorded several highlights, including four centuries, 15 five-wicket hauls by 12 different bowlers, and four batsmen scoring over 200 runs each.

  Simone Murdock, corporate services and client experience manager at Kingston Wharves, expressed her satisfaction with the competition’s return to pre-Covid standards. “We are glad to see a successful year come to an end. As said in the ceremony, we are finally returning to scores similar to the years before Covid so we are glad to see that we are on the right track and to celebrate with Westmoreland,” she said.

  Jamaica Cricket Association president Dr. Donovan Bennett, who watched most of the final, promised an even better competition in the future as the association increases its investment in junior cricket. “We are working hard to ensure that where we were pre-Covid, that we get back there as soon as we possibly can,” Bennett remarked.

  Westmoreland’s win has solidified their dominance in the 2023 Kingston Wharves U15 Cricket competition, a tournament that continues to provide a platform for the next generation of cricketers.

   

   

   

   

   

• 'The time is right to move on' – England's Moeen retires from internationals

  England's Moeen Ali has confirmed his international retirement.

  Moeen played across all formats for England over the past decade, and was part of the squads that won the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and T20 World Cup two years ago.

  Having come out of Test retirement to feature for England against Australia in 2023, Mooen has now confirmed his retirement from international cricket altogether.

  "I could hold on and try to play for England again, but I know in reality I won't," Moeen said in an interview with the Daily Mail.

  "Even retiring, I don't feel it's because I'm not good enough – I still feel I can play.

  "But I get how things are, and the team needs to evolve into another cycle. It's about being real to myself.

  "I've played a lot of cricket for England. It's time for the next generation.

  "It felt [like] the time was right to move on. I've done my part."

  He bows out having played 68 Tests, 138 ODIs and 92 T20Is.

  Moeen made five Test centuries, taking 204 wickets in the longest format.

  The off-spinner made three tons and took 111 wickets in ODIs, while clinching 51 wickets in T20Is.

• Complacency not an issue in England display, insists Stone

  Olly Stone denied complacency played a part in England's performance on day two of their final Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval.

  England were bowled out for 325 after 69 overs, as Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis helped the tourists reach 211-5 at stumps. 

  Stone was the pick of the hosts' bowling attack, taking the wickets of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal while also running out Dimuth Karunaratne. 

  De Silva, however, was crucially dropped by debutant Josh Hull, as he ended the day on 64 runs from 106 deliveries alongside Mendis (54). 

  And while England handed Sri Lanka a potential route back into the final Test, Stone was confident that on another day, they could have been out of sight.

  "I wouldn't say we were complacent. We've always said about taking the positive option, sometimes you can sit there and take a few blows," Stone said.

  "If you put a few chances away it can come out differently. On another day it goes another way, and we get a few on the board."

  As it had done on the first day, bad light was a constant threat, resulting in fast bowler Chris Woakes delivering four balls of off-spin.

  England had started brightly with the ball in hand, working through Sri Lanka's top order before being stopped in their tracks by De Silva and Mendis. 

  But the bad light inside The Oval played its part, with the tourists able to chip away at their target after tea.

  Stone acknowledged the difficulty of the conditions but had words of praise for Hull after taking his first wicket on his debut. 

  "It was too dark for our seamers but we tried to take the positive option. We thought we could take wickets with our spinners," Stone said.

  "We feel we have the bowlers in any conditions but Sri Lanka played well.

  "Hull has been brilliant. He hasn't looked nervous - he has been smiley, he has enjoyed it.

  "I know he will be better for taking that wicket and hopefully he can take more in the morning.

  "There is no greater job in the world. Going out there with a smile on our face, enjoying it.

  "It doesn't feel like international cricket, you are nice and relaxed and out there with your mates."