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.

Westmoreland overpowered Kensington to become the undisputed champion of the 33^rd Kingston Wharves U15 Cricket competition at the Ultimate Cricket Ground in Discovery Bay St. Ann recently.

Westmoreland shared the championship twice in the distant past but became the sole champion this year, winning all its matches in the preliminary round, quarterfinal, semifinal and the final. 

Wining the final was not always a surety during the match as Kensington restricted Westmoreland to 115 all out in 28.4 overs and threatened the score for a while as well as the lengthy rain delay during Kensington’s innings.

 The match MVP, Westmoreland’s Humario Reid shouldered the batting when he scored 80 runs from 81 deliveries and was the only batsman to get into double figures. The bulk of the wickets went to Zachary Buchanan who took seven for 33 while Andrew Lloyd got two for 32. 

Kensington started positively but lost its first wicket at 15 and then had a steady progression of batsmen returning to the pavilion, and was on seven for 27 at one point. There was a rain delay when they were in the thirties. They returned to the crease and steadied the inning but when they lost their eight wicket on 73, the writing was on the wall. They were eventually all out for 77 in 34.4 overs and lost the match by 38 runs to Westmoreland. 

Kensington’s captain Andrew Lloyd was the main run getter with 45 while Abraham Waugh, the only other batsman to get into double figures contributed 14 runs. The wickets were shared among Jemar Morgan three for 12, captain Ryan Littleton three for 23 and Davere Buchanan two for 17. 

Westmoreland’s coach Grantley Reid was very happy with the result.

“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 quarter finals but we never made it through but I knew we had the depth to win this competition and they delivered. Even when we were in deep trouble, because at one point Kensington made a fight of the match. They played well to come back from where they were because we thought it would have been over before they reach 50 but they fought well. They played well. They had heart. They have a young team.” 

The awards ceremony followed immediately after the match. There were several awards including the MVP for the final – Humario Reid, the teams’ MVPs – Westmoreland’s Ryan Littleton with 13 wickets and 236 runs and Kensington’s Abraham Waugh who bagged 21 wickets and 156 runs during the competition. 

Some of the highlights recorded for this year were; four centuries (same as last year), 15 five-wicket hauls by 12 different bowlers and four batsmen scored over 200 runs each. 

Simone Murdock, corporate services and client experience manager at Kingston Wharves was also happy with this year’s competition. “We are glad to see a successful year come to an end. As said in the (closing) 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.” 

The Jamaica Cricket Association’s president, Dr. Donovan Bennett who watched most of the final, promised a better competition going forward based on the association’s plans to increase its investment in junior level cricket.

“We are working hard to ensure that where we were pre Covid, that we get back there as soon as we possibly can.”

Kensington and Westmoreland have secured their spots in the final of the Kingston Wharves Under-15 Cricket Competition after delivering dominant performances in their respective semifinal matches on Tuesday. The two teams will meet in what promises to be an exciting final on Friday at the Ultimate Cricket Ground in Discovery Bay, St. Ann.

 Kensington, who have been eagerly awaiting their chance to claim the coveted Kingston Wharves U15 trophy, traveled to Jack’s River in St. Mary to face the defending champions from 2022. St. Mary, known for their strong performance in recent years, won the toss but struggled with the bat, managing only 74 runs before being bowled out in 34.4 overs. Marcodean Dunn top-scored with 23, while Leonardo Silvera and Akeem Palmer contributed 18 and 12 runs, respectively. Kensington’s bowlers were in top form, with Abraham Waugh taking three wickets for just six runs, Zachary Buchanan claiming three for nine, and Andrew Lloyd adding two wickets for 22 runs.

 In response, Kensington chased down the modest target with ease, finishing on 75 for one and winning the match by nine wickets. Zachary Buchanan led the charge with 28 runs, while Abraham Waugh added 24, and Rhys Williams chipped in with 10. Shavaughn Boyd was the lone wicket-taker for St. Mary, conceding 21 runs.

 Meanwhile, Westmoreland hosted Melbourne in Paradise for their semifinal, where they bowled out their opponents for a paltry 28 runs in a low-scoring affair. Despite being in formidable form throughout the tournament—evidenced by their record-breaking 365-run total in the quarterfinal—Westmoreland had to work hard for their victory, losing six wickets before finally reaching the target.

 With these results, Kensington and Westmoreland are set to face off in the final, with both teams eager to be crowned the new champions of the Kingston Wharves U15 Cricket Competition. The final is expected to be a thrilling contest, showcasing some of the best young cricketing talent in Jamaica.

 Immediately following the final, 24 standout players will be selected to begin preparations for next year’s regional championship, offering them the opportunity to further develop their skills and represent their country on a larger stage.

Eight-year-old Bella Brown emerged as a star of the Millrose Games in New York on Sunday, clinching victory in the U8 (under-8) 55m dash with a dazzling time of 8.66 seconds. (See video below). In a remarkable display of talent and passion, Bella's inspiration stems from none other than the iconic Jamaican sprinter, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The influence of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce on Bella's journey is profound.  "She probably saw Shelly Anne run when she was about four years old. She was very excited,” said Bella’s mother Sandra Harris, beaming with pride.

“We watch clips all the time. She watched them run. All the time she looks at their form. She looks at how they relax when they're running even though they're running hard. So yeah, she watches Shelly-Ann Fraser (Pryce) all the time and Veronica (Campbell-Brown) too."

The young prodigy's electrifying win at the Millrose Games showcased her raw talent and dedication, echoing the footsteps of her Jamaican idols. Sandra shared insights into her daughter's excitement and commitment after the triumphant race:

"Bella was excited. She trained very hard for this race, especially her starts. She came in very confident. She said she's gonna win, and all she wanted to do was execute her race properly. So when she did what she sought out to do, she was excited when she finished running."

Bella's affinity for track and field is deeply rooted in her family's athletic legacy. Sandra, whose family is from Westmoreland in Jamaica, is a former 100m and 200m sprinter, and Clarendon-born Barrington Brown, Bella's father, with a background in running and jumping, have passed down their love for the sport. "Bella Brown is from a track family. I ran. I was a 55/200m runner. 11 seconds in the 100m, 23 in the 200m. Her dad was also a runner and a jumper, so I would say it's in her blood," Sandra remarked.

However, Bella's dreams reach beyond mere victories on the track; she aspires to become an Olympian. Sandra expressed, "Bella wants to be an Olympian, yes. I don't know how far she wants to take it if she wants to be the fastest woman in the world one day, but she definitely wants to go to the Olympics."

As for Bella's potential representation on the global stage, Sandra said she is leaving the decision to her daughter: "If she continues on her path that she's currently on, I don't know who she will represent. Not sure she'll represent the USA or Jamaica, but we'll always leave that up to her. We want her to represent Jamaica; that's where we're from."