Sports

The number of all-format contracts on the men’s side has now increased from four to seven with Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul joining Test and One-Day International captain Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach on the list.

The 24-year-old has been the twelfth man for most of the West Indies' World Cup campaign, but made his bow against India last week and got the nod again against Sri Lanka on Monday.

And he made the most of his opportunity, taking a superb catch off his own bowing to dismiss Kusal Mendis in the Sri Lanka innings before smashing 51 off only 32 balls to keep the West Indies' ultimately futile run chase close.

Substitute Darren Mattocks scored from the penalty spot in the 75th minute which proved to be the winner in the end.

Speaking at the post-game press conference afterwards, Whitmore said they deserve to go through to their third straight Gold Cup semi-finals.

Devoy Smith cracked a whirlwind century of 130 from 74 balls which laid the foundation for Old Harbour to claim a third successive parish crown and seventh overall.

The two-time defending national champions will now seek to regain the main prize last won in 2012.

With history in their favour, Old Harbour chose to bat after winning the toss and amassed a daunting 213 for four off their allotted 20 overs.

So when the West Indies opener was asked where he ranked in the pantheon of the greatest cricketers from the Caribbean, there was no false modesty.

Instead, Gayle took the opportunity to remind everyone of what he has achieved, while revealing that his planned international retirement after the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 will actually be pushed back by at least a few months.

He said: “I'm definitely up there with the greats without a doubt.

Match times are 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm.

A total of 20 teams will once again via for top honours in this eight-a-side community football competition with more than half-a-million dollars in prize money to be won.

Defending champions Amalya Strikers will not be returning as they’ll be focusing on other footballing matters this season, as are 2016 champions Church Trends.

This leaves Family United, the most successful team in the competition history with three titles and two-time winners Hammer N Nail the favoured teams to win to lift the coveted crown.

I think the West Indies should have sewn the game up, but they did not bowl very well towards the end of Australia’s innings after being in the ascendancy earlier on.

West Indies had Australia in a similar position to when they played Pakistan a few days ago and expected them to capitulate like the Pakistan side did, but the Australians have won five World Cups therefore it’s obvious that they have the ability to recover and they would have encountered such situation before.

Holder’s side came within 15 runs of reaching the 289-run target set by Australia and were ahead large parts of their chase, having reached 190/4 within 35 overs.

But Mitchell Starc had other ideas, becoming the main instigator and finishing with a five-wicket haul as West Indies struggled for late runs, with the top order getting out at regular intervals having made threatening partnerships.

Proceeds of the event, now in its fourth year, will help raise much-needed funds to assist the Guardsman Foundation’s charities, focused on youth development and empowerment.

The Guardsman Games comprises three events — the Guardsman Challenge, which is a six-kilometre race with more than 20 obstacles. The challenge also serves as a qualifying race for individuals to represent Jamaica at the Obstacle Course Race (OCR) World Championships in London, England.

The targeted age group is 8-13 years old who will all compete in a competition dubbed the Tri Star Sports Contest.

Chairman of the organizing committee Obryan Leighton of Old Harbour explained that the youngsters will first be exposed to a series of clinics led by expert coaches.

“The ideology behind this event is that children in the specified age group showcase their talents while learning three skills in a particular sport,” said Leighton.