Mutual joins night cricket XI

This season's Spooners Hill Crop-Over night cricket tapeball competition will have a new sponsor and six new teams. The Barbados Mutual insurance company has thrown its support behind the tournament, which will now be called the Mutual Cricket `N Crop-Over Competition.

The competition has attracted 16 teams, six of them newcomers: Carib Stars, Vincie Connection, Life Underwriters' Association of Barbados, Cockspur Wadadah, Barbados Muslim Sports Club and the Mia Mottley XI.

The tournament joins the insurance's company's programme of youth, cultural and sporting activities.

Mutual vice-president (Barbados region) Michael Lashley said yesterday at a media conference that the tournament represented a link between national sport and national festival.

'This is the first time we are sponsoring the competition and we are more than excited to be contributors of the night cricket, especially during the Crop-Over season,' he said.

'We are hoping to recapture the atmosphere of `village cricket' of yesteryear with friendly rivalry and good fun.'

Chairman of the Crop-Over Cricket Committee, Richard Bynoe, and tournament co-ordinator Wayne Holder praised The Mutual for its support.

'Not only do fans get a chance to enjoy more cricket but it helps us to contribute to tourism, allowing visitors and Bajan Yankees to enjoy the game,' Holder said.

He added that the National Cultural Foundation had agreed to adopt the event and had placed it on the Crop-Over calendar.

Several trophies and monetary awards will be handed out, including Man-Of-The-Match in the semifinals and finals, Outstanding Wicketkeeper, Most Catches in the Competition, Most Wickets in Each Zone and Most Runs in Each Zone.

The competition, which runs for ten weeks, begins on Monday and continues until August 11 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

It will be played under lights at the Barbados Lumber Company at Codrington, St. Michael.