St Bess trio grateful for SDC/Wray & Nephew exposure

Andre McCarthy, Roberto Simpson, and Lennox Simpson say playing in the Social Development Commission (SDC)/Wray & Nephew National Community T20 Competition has helped them develop their game.

McCarthy and Roberto Simpson featured for winners Junction Ballards Valley in the St Elizabeth parish final at the Manley Horne Sports Park on Sunday, against Lennox Simpson's Junction Bull Savannah.

McCarthy said the competition helps them to learn from senior players.

On Sunday, he produced a superb knock of 39 runs from 10 balls with three sixes and four fours and returned with bowling figures of 1 for 19 runs from his four overs to lead his team to the title.

"I love playing in this competition," he said. "It helps me because we are in the community, playing in front of people you know and they cheer us on. This encourages us to come out and put on a good performance. My family also come out and support me a lot every cricket match I play."

"The captain, Damion Ebanks, he pushes me a lot because he expects the best from me. He is a mentor for me, he always tells me that I can do well. He is a former national player, so I look up to him, always listen to him, and I always play good cricket when I come out here."

Roberto Simpson, who bagged 3 for 23 runs from his four overs, is delighted to be a playing the competition, which he says helps him both mentally and physically.

"It has helped me to improve a lot," he said. "Playing against the bigger guys, I can work on my skill to come out successful. So I'm grateful for the opportunity. Yes, this will prepare us mentally and physically for the future. Playing with these experienced guys and even dominating at this level shows that we are putting in enough work. And it's a testament that we can reach as far as we want to reach."

Former national under-17 all-rounder, Lennox Simpson, whose knock of 33 runs was not enough in a tough run chase, is hoping to make it to the Under-19 ranks and is looking to use the experience gained from the competition to do so.

"It gives me exposure playing against the bigger players in the country also the older players in my team gather me under their wing, so I learn from them. From I was even younger, he (Bull Savannah's captain, Troy Powell) said I was the upcoming talent so he has always been there, pushing me and he even gave me the responsibility of opening the innings," Lennox said.

Ballards Valley, who claimed their first parish title in the win, now move on to the all-island play-offs.