DCA hosts Antigua Cricket Academy

The Dominica Cricket Association (DCA) hosted the North Side Cricket Academy from Antigua at the Dominica Cricket Association Academy (DCAA) in Portsmouth from December 11^th to 16^th, 2016.

Through the efforts of Alfredo Frederick and Risha Farrell in Antigua and Sam Kirnon, the DCAA Coach, a contingent of 12 players, a Coach, 8 parents and 2 siblings of the players gave Dominica’s sports tourism product a further boost.  The team was also accompanied by its PRO, Clinton Bynoe, who is originally from Portsmouth.

Ridley Jacobs, Manager/Coach of North Side, said he made a trip ahead of this one in order to finalize arrangements.  “I came in before to meet with Sam and ensure that everything was in place for this trip and we’re very pleased with the preparation of the grounds. Dominica just has a good atmosphere for playing cricket.  This is our first trip outside of Antigua as a group and we chose Dominica because it’s natural and we are really excited to be here,” he said.

On December 12^th, the visiting team played a combined Under 13 & 15 team, winning handsomely after 25 overs with 118 runs, against the local team’s 46 runs.  On December 13^th, they had an even game against the Kalinago Territory in terms of the scores with the Kalinago Territory all out for 72 and Antigua scoring 72/6, again in 25 overs.  In the third match against a Roseau Cluster at the Botanical Gardens on December 14^th, the Roseau team was 47/8 off 20 overs while Antigua was 48/0 from 5 overs.   Seventeen-year old Shawnisha Britney Hector captured the “Player of the Match” title taking four wickets for four runs.  She was the only female on the visiting team and one of only three female members of the Academy.  She is also a former Captain of the Leeward Islands Women’s Senior Team.  The North Side Cricket Academy consists of players between the ages of 4 and 19 but there is no minimum age requirement; the only criterion is that you want to play cricket.

North Side provided each “Player of the Match” with iPads and also made donations of cash and other items, including ties, to the teams they played, their Managers and their best players.