Fairfield United dominated the game against Race Course to win the SDC/Wray and Nephew National Community All-Island T-20 cricket competition on Sunday, thanks largely in part to the competition’s most valuable player, Sherdon Allen.

Allen has been a member of the team for the last three years and starred in this season’s competition to cop all the top individual awards.

The allrounder was delighted with the awards he received, which underlined his contribution to the 2021 champions.

“It’s an overwhelming feeling to be awarded the Man-of-the-match award and win the prizes for the most runs scored and the most wickets taken and to win the title as well,” he said.

“I have been playing with this team for the last three years and to finally win the competition, it feels really great,” he continued.

Allen first starred with the ball during Race Course’s turn at bat, taking three wickets which restricted the opponents to 80 all out from 15.3 overs. He was ably supported by Leighton Leslie who also took three wickets.

Allen then contributed 22 runs from 17 balls in his team’s run chase, which came to an end at 83 for 6 with 17 balls to spare.

Allen was happy that he was able to contribute with the bat, as well as the ball, as his team won the title for the very first time.

“I knew that I had to come out and do well for my team today. At the halfway mark we knew that we were on top and we went out there and finished the job with the bat.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the organisers and sponsors of the competition who were able to restore the sport that had been missing for many, many months.

“We are truly grateful for what Wray and Nephew has done to ensure the return of this competition. There wasn’t any cricket being played and Wray and Nephew along with SDC came out and put on this competition so that we could come back out here and play some cricket. Big up to Wray and Nephew,” he said.

Courtney Francis, the CEO of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) was delighted that the competition was held despite the challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am very happy. Under the circumstances with the pandemic, this is something that the SDC with the partnership with the JCA and other ministries and agencies of the government is afforded the opportunity to play cricket at this level and I am elated.”

He also lauded the sponsors for their continued contribution to the sport of cricket.

“We are very fortunate that Wray & Nephew over the years, is a company that has contributed to Jamaica’s cricket significantly and we are very grateful that they would have partnered with the SDC and all the other sponsors to ensure that we can have this tournament.”

Pavel Smith, the marketing manager at J. Wray and Nephew Limited, says the effort showed by the players during the tournament is one of the main reasons his company continues to support the event.

“This just shows you that fi wi culture is still alive in fi wi cricket. The players are showing the commitment, they are showing the teamwork and the camaraderie and Wray & Nephew is always happy to be a part of that,” he said.