St John’s, Antigua — President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Dr Julian Hunte, has showered the Jamaica cricket team with praise following their record-breaking performance to capture this year’s Regional 4 Day title.
Jamaicans celebrate with the Headley/Weekes trophy at Sabina Park. Photo: windiescricket.com
The Jamaicans won the region’s most prestigious cricket title when they had a superb come-from-behind triumph in the final against Barbados at Sabina Park on Monday to retain the Headley/Weekes trophy, named in honor of West Indies greats George Headley and Sir Everton Weekes.
They ended the tournament with a perfect record — winning all their preliminary matches as well as the semi-final against Guyana and the grand finale against the Bajans after conceding first innings. The amazing display meant they established a record of five consecutive regional first-class titles under the leadership of captain Tamar Lambert.
“On behalf of the WICB I would like to congratulate the Jamaica team on an amazing performance, where they swept everyone and everything before them. To play win every match contested is remarkable achievement,” Dr Hunte said.
“In achieving that feat they created history by topping the table for a fifth straight year. This is a truly amazing run and everyone involved throughout that period of dominance deserves commendation and congratulations.
“The Jamaicans have conquered the other teams in the region but they have done more than just that. They demonstrated that with planning and team work you could achieve what you set out to do. At the start of the season the stated goal was to win the championship and everything they did on and off the field was done with that goal in mind.”
Jamaica’s bowling was exceptional this season and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller ended the season as the leading wicket-taker with 49 wickets. The batting was steady and reliable and left-hander Brendan Nash made the highest individual score — 205 not out against Guyana.
Dr Hunte added: “The investment made by the Jamaica Cricket Association over the last decade has paid off and the Jamaicans are reaping the successes they deserve. They have set a standard and have worked to achieve them. Before the season it was clear that a fifth title is what they wanted and they played out of their skins to get it. They worked faithfully and diligently and have now established themselves as the undisputed kings of Regional 4 day cricket in this era.”