NO CHAMPION CROWNED FOR CG UNITED SUPER50

TAROUBA, Trinidad and Tobago – An anticlimactic end to what has been an exciting and competitive CG United Super50 Cup 2024, with both finalists, Barbados Pride and Jamaica Scorpions forfeiting the final.

Consequently, Cricket West Indies have announced that there is no champion for this year's competition. Tournament organizers made the announcement after a day of competition hit by heavy rain.

This year's champions would receive a prize money of $100,000; while the number two would have received $50,000. Both semi-finalists will each receive a reward of US$25,000.

With an initially scheduled start at 1 p.m., scattered showers began on the ground around noon, indefinitely delaying the start of proceedings. Match referee Reon King informed both teams, in conjunction with the umpiring team, that the latest possible start time was 6:17 pm, at which point the match would be played as a 20 overs match per side.

Barbados Pride defeated defending champions Trinidad and Tobago Red Force by 153 runs to advance to the final.

According to the playing conditions applicable to the tournament, both teams will be declared co-winners of the tournament if no play can take place at all or in the event of a tie, no result or an abandonment of the match.

However, at approximately 5:45 PM, the officiating team decided that the match could continue at the latest possible start time of 6:17 PM. They informed the players about this and that the toss would take place at 6:00 PM.

Despite assurances from the officials and the match referee that conditions were safe for play, both captains were not present for the toss, causing time to pass beyond the final starting point. As a result, both teams failed to enter the field and essentially refused to play. This resulted in a double forfeit, with no champion declared.

Jamaica Scorpions won their semi-final against Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 107 runs.

These unexpected events were the culmination of what had been an exceptional tournament with excellent performances.

Both competing teams earned their place in the finals with impressive victories in the semi-finals. Barbados Pride defeated defending champions Trinidad & Tobago Red Force by 153 runs, while Jamaica Scorpions defeated Leeward Islands Hurricanes by 107 runs.

During the round-robin stage of the tournament, several matches produced nail-biting finishes that kept spectators on edge. Barbados Pride featured in several last-over thrillers, including a one-wicket win over Guyana, where debutant Demetrius Richards' unbeaten 65 proved decisive. The Pride also defeated the Windward Volcanoes by eight runs in a rain-affected match, with captain Kyle Mayers taking two wickets in the final.

Spin bowling dominated the entire tournament, culminating in some exceptional performances.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes' Rahkeem Cornwalls 6/20 against CCC, Khary Pierres miserly 4/8 in the opening match of the tournament, and Yannic Cariah's consistent performances underlined the importance of slow bowling in Caribbean conditions.

Captain Rahkeem Cornwall of Leeward Islands Hurricanes was the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 23.

Carlos Brown's first list A century (121) for Jamaica Scorpions against CCC and Matthew Nandus brilliant 116 for Guyana demonstrated the depth of emerging Caribbean batting talent.

Justin Greaves of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes produced the defining individual performance of the tournament, becoming the first West Indian to score three consecutive List A centuries. His remarkable series of 111*, 112 and 151* demonstrated the high batting standards that characterized the competition.

CWI will revise the tournament rules in light of the unprecedented situation of a double forfeit. Additional information will be shared after further consultation with stakeholders.