In a must win game for St. Kitts, St. Martin won and chose to bat first setting a total of 249 for 9 off 50 overs. Captain Romain Doodnauth looked set to make a hundred only to fall short by 8 runs for 92 from 118 balls. Akeem Charles had 38 from 60 balls and Shaquil Martina 32.
For St. Kitts, Elvin Berridge picked up and impressive 6-43 runs and Sheeno Berridge 2 for 27.
In reply, St. Kitts reached the target of 250 after losing 9 wickets off 47.4 overs, with Steve Liburd cracking 73, Codville Rogers 59, Jacques Taylor, 40. Young wicket Keeper batsman Dylin Liddie held his nerves in the latter stages to help St. Kitts to victory scoring 23 from 12 balls.
Bowling for St Maarten, K. David had 2 – 45, Joel Browne 1 – 27 and Moreland Le Blanc 1 – 27
The Kittitian coach Percy ‘sly’ Daniel outlined that it was important that his team won the game but said that they were trying to win the game within 40 overs.
He explained that once they found out the calculations were beyond the 40 overs the game took a different course.
The coach also admitted that heading into the semi- finals, the team has to improve its catching, which he describes as awful, and says it’s not the St. Kitts team he knows of the past. He said over the years, Kittitians were known for their excellent fielding which brought us out of terrible situations we found ourselves in. However, on Monday the local side displayed very poor skills in the field.
Elsewhere Nevis crushed Montserrat at the Elquemedo Willet Park in Nevis. In a rain reduced match, Montserrat won the toss and sent Nevis to bat. The home team scored 247 for 5 with Javier Liburd scoring 99 and Tonito Willet scoring 61.
For Montserrat McPherson Meade took 1- 32 runs and Lionel Baker 1 – 40.
In reply, Montserrat made 107 all out in 30.1 overs; Roscoe Sinclair made 22 runs and Lionel Baker 19.
Nelson Bolan picked up 3 for 17, Akito Willett 2 for 2 and Jason Campbell 2 for 36.
The tournament continues today with Montserrat facing the British Virgin Islands (BVI) at the Warner Park in St. Kitts.