The bad news we all know; the West Indies’ batting is dreadful!
The good news is that help might just be a few years away in the form of a 15-year-old all-rounder from St Lucia.
Theo Edward on Monday scored his second century in two days while helping his country’s U15 team to a massive 403-run victory over Grenada in the Windward Islands WINLOTT Inc. U15 Tournament currently underway at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia.
Team captain Edward, who turned 15 in October, scored 101 from 81 balls as St Lucia scored a mammoth 482-8 from their 50 overs. Meanwhile, his vice-captain Johnathan Daniel raced to 142 from just 91 deliveries and smashed 17 fours and eight sixes.
St Lucia also got half centuries from Aaron St Clair and Codi Fontinelle, who scored 68 and 60, respectively, to set up the massive total.
Xzavian Rock was the best of the Grenadian bowlers with 4-90 from his 10 overs.
Faced with incredible scoreboard pressure, Grenada folded for just 79.
Captain Jayon Henry led from the front with 25 but Rock’s 11 was the only other score in double figures against Leon Alexander, who snared 3-14 and Edward 2-5 to complete the comprehensive victory.
On Sunday, Edward scored 198 in St Lucia’s 435-6 on their way to a 298-run thrashing of Dominica at the same venue. His knock included 30 fours and six sixes that came from 143 balls.
Alexander (58) and Daniel (54) also contributed half-centuries to the match-winning total.
Lybird Tharoux was the best of the Dominican bowlers with 4-53 from eight overs.
With the exception of Earsinho Fontaine’s 53 and Kenneth Valmon (21), Dominica’s batters had no answer for Alexander (5-23) and Edward (2-13) as their side crumbled to 137 all out in just 27 overs. No other batter made double figures while four failed to score in the lopsided affair.
Edward harbours ambitions of playing for the West Indies and lists Johnson Charles as his hero. On his current path, he just might be the hero the West Indies needs in just a few years’ time.