Citizens of two top cricketing nations resident in the Cayman Islands opened the CLICO Cayman Challenge Trophy on Sunday at the Smith Road Oval. Australia and Barbados, powerhouses in world’s cricket came up against each other in a keenly contested match bringing in the cricket off season program.

Cayman cricket is bound to improve. The fact that West In-dies star players came here and felt there was loads of talent here should bear that out. In particular WI cricket team captain Chris Gayle and fast bowler Jerome Taylor had much praise for Cayman’s young players.

The first women cricket league organised by CICA and sponsored by British American Insurance was completed with a splendid victory by Stingrays team.

International Cricket Council held its annual conference last month. It was a special occasion. Cayman Islands were represented at the ICC Centenary Annual Conference and ICC Americas Region Forum by President Courtney Myles, Secretary Merta Day and Technical Director Theo Cuffy.

ESSO Cubs comprehensive victory by 8 wickets against Greenies Too secured the Division 2 championships in this their first attempt. Greenies Too batted first and had no answer for the mixture of youth and experience from the ESSO Cubs team. Two wickets each for Nicholas Roberts, Kervin Ebanks and Omar Willis ensured that ESSO Cubs required only 97 runs for victory. This they achieved from Ramon Sealy 45 and promoted Kervin Ebanks 35n.o.

When Vanessa Cameron ran 10 yards and took a fantastic catch to dismiss Carmel Harms, the old adage of catches win matches was proven to be true. Stingrays batted first and scored 125 runs for 5 wickets.

Saheed Mohamed third century led Prison to back to back league titles when they emerged victorious in the head to head clash with Greenies. Having won the title in 2008, Prison showed real poise on the road to victory winning the 2009 CLICO CAYMAN Division 1 League title at the Jimmy Powell Oval. Entering the action with Prison tottering at 3 wickets for 39 runs, Mohamed produced a gem of an innings with 13 well executed fours and one massive hit over the boundary.

Greenies Spice won their first match in the British American Insurance Women League and what a victory it was. ESSO Panthers batted first and scored 134 runs for 2 wickets. Desrene Cox 41n.o top scored for the Panthers. Greenies Spice opening pair of Wiki Hitchman and Carmel Harms displayed excellent discipline in their approach and paced their way to a record of 135 runs for no wicket and gave their fellow players and supporters much to celebrate.