An excruciating three-year wait ended in title glory for Milo Lodge, December 1, 2022 when they were crowned the Barbados Cricket Association Schools' Under-19 One-day champions again. The boys from the Society, St John-based school had to wait until now to defend the title in 2019 because of the suspension of the playing of sport in the island due to Government Health and Safety regulations related to COVID-19. But they went into the parish of old rivals Foundation and defied their all-spin attack to fashion a comfortable six-wicket win in the final of this year's tournament at the Maurice King Sports Complex in Briar Hall, Christ Church. Wobbling on 57 for four in the 21st over in pursuit of exactly 100 in a match reduced to 37 overs-a-side because of wet conditions, Lodge needed an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 46 between all-rounders Zion Brathwaite (not out on 27) and Shaquan Belle (not out on 20) to get them over the finish line. To a cacophony of noise from their supporters, Belle formalised the result when he struck a delivery from leg-spinner Isaiah Folkes for four, with 53 balls remaining to give Lodge the title for the seventh time in 11 trips. Lodge Physical Education teacher Clifton Phillips said the title success made the wait they had to endure much sweeter and highlighted the talent base at the school. "To be able to go through the period of COVID-19 and come back and be so dominant says a lot for our programme, and I anticipate going forward we are going to get stronger," he told Weekend Sport. Earlier, off-spinner Shomari Gittens took a miserly three for 12 from seven overs, and pacer Jaden Lorde supported with three for 32 from 6.3 overs, and Foundation were dismissed for a modest 99 in 32.3 overs, after they were sent in to bat. Foundation captain Nathan Sealy led the way with 25 and he was the only batsman to reach 20, as Foundation struggled to come to grips with the disciplined pace bowling of The Lodge on a helpful pitch. "Based on the conditions, there was great celebration from the Lodge team when the won the toss and that had a great impact on the outcome," Foundation coach Nhamo Winn said. Foundation were 40-3 when Gittens swung the match decisively with the wickets of Jelani Joseph, Joshua Dorne, and Akeem McCollin. Foundation sunk to 48 for five, and Sealy struck two sixes in his 38-ball knock, to give them a fighting chance. Gittens opened the batting for Lodge and made 26 to make him a shoo-in for the Player of the Match award, but he was one of three wickets that fell between the 11th and 21st overs to set his side back before the two "Bs" (Brathwaite and Belle) shut the door on Foundation.
Posting credit by Adriel Richard.
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