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• CWI congratulates former captain Merissa Aguilera on prestigious national award

  Cricket West Indies (CW) President, Dr. Kishore Shallow, lauded former West Indies Captain Merissa Aguilleira on her remarkable achievement of receiving the prestigious Hummingbird Medal (HBM) Gold Award at the 2024 National Awards of Trinidad & Tobago on Tuesday.

  Shallow, in extending heartfelt congratulations to Aguilleira on behalf of the CWI Board and Management, pointed out that the recognition is well-deserved.

  “Merissa's exemplary dedication and outstanding contributions serve as an inspiration to us all. As she embraces and embarks on other influential roles in cricket, particularly to develop other young athletes, we express our gratitude for her ongoing commitment and wish her continued success,” Shallow said in a release on Wednesday.

  

  The Hummingbird Medal Gold Award is one of Trinidad & Tobago's highest honours, recognising loyal and devoted service beneficial to Trinidad and Tobago, in any field of human endeavour or for gallantry or other humane action. Aguilleira was recognised not only for her immense contributions as a Trinidad and Tobago national to the West Indies team but also for her contributions to the sport on the island.

  Despite her retirement in 2019, Aguilleira remains an inspiring figure for aspiring cricketers, particularly women in the sport. Her journey and achievements highlight the growth of women's cricket and the impact of dedicated athletes in challenging traditional norms. As a player and a leader, Aguilleira has left an indelible mark on the game, paving the way for future generations.

  She played in over 100 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and captained the West Indies Women from 2009-2015, a period during which she led the team to the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in India in 2013, and the semi-finals of the ICC Women’s World T20 in 2010, 2012, and 2014, and was part of the 2016 ICC Women’s World T20 winning team in Kolkata.

  

  In her primary role as a wicketkeeper, she has over 100 dismissals in ODI cricket, having recently achieved the magical three figures during the home series against South Africa Women in September 2018. Additionally, she has over 70 dismissals in T20 internationals (T20Is) from the 95 matches she has played.

  Having made her ODI debut against the Netherlands Women in July of 2008 and her T20I debut against South Africa in June of 2009, she played 112 ODI matches, amassing 1752 runs at an average of 20.61 and 95 T20Is, scoring 768 runs at an average of 14.49.

  In 2023, CWI Vice President, Azim Bassarath and former West Indies two-time world champion Samuel Badree also received the Hummingbird Medal Gold Award.

• Intriguing matchups scheduled as teams push for semi-final berths in Caribbean Cup

  Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain and Police FC are among teams that will be hoping to position themselves for a semi-final berth as the Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues on Tuesday.

  Two Group B encounters will get the week’s action under way, with Haiti’s Ouanaminthe set to host Antigua’s Grenades in the Dominican Republic, while AC Port of Spain welcomes the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC.

  Meanwhile, the Group A contests between another Haitian club Real Hope and Arnett Gardens are set for Wednesday, with Police FC and Mount Pleasant set to rub shoulders on Thursday.

  Ouanaminthe FC vs. Grenades FC

  With both teams having only secured a point from their first two games, this contest represents an opportunity for either to move closer to the leaders, provided they execute efficiently to snare all three points.

  Grenades FC and Ouanaminthe FC currently sit fourth and fifth with a point each, as Dominican Republic’s Moca FC comfortably occupies pole position on seven points ahead of Cibao (four points) and Port of Spain (two points).

  Fredelin Philistin, who scored in Ouanaminthe’s 1-3 loss to Moca last Wednesday, will be key to their chances of securing their first win on this occasion.

  The same is true about Sean Tomlinson, who notched a late equaliser for Grenades FC against Port of Spain on last.

  Anything but a win for either team will bury their chances of progressing any further in the tournament.

  

  AC Port of Spain vs. Cibao FC

  With two points from three games, AC Port of Spain will enter this, their final group stage fixture against Cibao FC, also knowing that anything but a win will see them falling short of the semi-final.

  Still, a win at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, doesn’t necessarily guarantee AC Port of Spain a semi-final spot, but it would provisionally push them into second above Cibao. From there, the Twin Island Republic’s representatives would then have to hope a result between Ouanaminthe and Cibao, on October 1 falls in their favour.

  Shackiel Smek and John Paul Rochford will be the point men for AC Port of Spain.

  Meanwhile, for Cibao FC, a win or a draw would not only extend their unbeaten run but also ensure they remain in a favourable position for a semi-final appearance.

  Jean Lopez and Eddipo Rodriguez are expected to cause trouble for AC Port of Spain’s backline.

  

  Real Hope FA vs. Arnett Gardens FC

  Group A also remains in the balance, as Cavalier remain tops on six points ahead of Real Hope FA and Police FC on four points each. Mount Pleasant is also in striking distance on three points, while Arnett Gardens is without a point, but can turn their chances around with a win at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

  Real Hope will enter the contest with their tails high having clipped Cavalier 2-1 last week, and knowing that another win would propel them to the top of the standing with one game still to come against Mount Pleasant on October 3.

  The Haitian club will look to Rikanel Chery and Steeve Mondestin to lead their charge.

  Despite their current situation, Arnett Gardens, the reigning Caribbean Shield champions, are no pushovers and head coach Xavier Gilbert will be hoping they can stamp their class in this contest to gradually revive their chances of progressing further.

  Shai Smith, Warner Brown and others will be hoping to get some goals under their belts should goal-difference come into play, as the game will serve as Real Hope’s home fixture.

  

  Miscellaneous Police FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA

  Police FC will welcome the fact that their final group stage fixture will be at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Thursday. However, the fact that they will be up against a highly-motivated Mount Pleasant team doesn’t allow much room for comfort.

  But having edged one Jamaican club in Arnett Gardens 2-1 last week, Police will be backing their quality to down another, which would keep them in contention for a semi-final berth while slightly a draw or a loss could spell trouble for their chances.

  Ezekiel Kesar will be their point man in attack.

  A win for Mount Pleasant would also keep them in the running for a semi-final berth with a game in hand, but unlike their previous games, they will need to be at their best and capitalise on their chances to stay alive.

  Jashaun Anglin and Kimoni Bailey are just two players to look out for in a deep squad that possesses immense quality.

• Pooran leads TKR to victory over hapless Patriots despite Fletcher's heroic knock

  A high scoring affair in the second match of the day in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw Trinbago Knight Riders end the season for the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots with a seven-wicket defeat.

  After winning their first match of the competition the Patriots have lost every game since, but this defeat in Tarouba seemed particularly cruel after they posted a sizeable 193-4 with the bat after being inserted at the toss.

  Captain Andre Fletcher led from the front with a brilliant innings of 93 from 61 balls that included shots all around the ground and six sixes struck into the crowd. Fletcher was denied a deserved century, falling short by seven runs when Chris Jordan had him caught by the bucket hands of Kieron Pollard on the long off boundary.

  Jordan was the pick of the Knight Riders bowlers and also gave a glimpse of his own Velcro hands by pulling off an impressive diving catch off his own bowling when Kyle Mayers, on 60, mis-timed a short ball and offered up a sharp return chance.

  The Knight Riders were clinical in their chase, Jason Roy blitzing 64 runs from 34 deliveries at the top of the order before Nicholas Pooran finished the job in some style, striking a flat six down the ground - his seventh of the evening – to finish the match.

  

  Pooran was Player of the Match, hitting 13 boundaries to finish undefeated on 93 off just 43 deliveries, albeit he was aided by some sloppy catching that saw him put down on a handful of occasions in the field.

  The Patriots will rue the dropped catches and the missed opportunity to finish a tough campaign with a victory over one of the favourite sides. The Knight Riders will benefit from a Net Run Rate boost having hauled down the sizeable target with nine balls remaining, they now sit on ten points alongside Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors.