Northern Lights were crowned inaugural champions of the Sandals Under-19 Cricket competition following a six-run victory over the Southern Sparkes in an entertaining finale at Melbourne Cricket Club yesterday.

The Lights, who were beaten earlier in the season by the same opponents ,entered the contest to make amends and did just that, thanks to a strong all-round showing from captain Kristoff Virgo and Kishawn Graham.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Northern Lights recovered from a poor start to chalk up a respectable total of 208. Five batsmen including Virgo (29) and Graham (30) made meaningful contributions, but none in excess of 50.

Virgo, a spin bowler returned to snare 4-18, while pacer Graham grabbed 2-59 in assisting to restrict the Sparkes to 202 all out. Tray Gayle also bagged 2-55 in handing the Southern Sparkes their first defeat of the tournament.

Scores: Northern Lights 208 all out (49.3 overs); Southern Sparkes 202 (48.1)

It was an unfavourable start to the Bernard Junior-coached Northern Lights innings, as they suffered an early setback when they lost both openers with just 10 runs on the board.

Both Yash Amin, who was run out by Ian Spence, and Shavar Christie, who went caught off the bowling of Shalome Parnell, went without scoring.

Stephen Pink (32) and wicketkeeper/batsman Kimani Wilson, who led with a knock of 34 off 50 balls, including four boundaries, went about steadily repairing the innings.

The two shared in a 60-run third-wicket stand which briefly frustrated the Sparkes bowlers, before Wilson carelessly dragged his foot to a quicker delivery from Spence and was stumped by wicketkeeper Kashawn Beale.

The score quickly became 83-4 after pacer Sanjay Williams cleaned up Josh Grey (seven) and it took a 37-run stand between Pink and Vauyani Bailey (20), who fired four boundaries in his knock, to once again keep the innings intact.

However, when Bailey went caught behind off Williams and Pink holed out to Brad Barnes in the slip cordon off Spence to end his patient innings which includes a mere two boundaries, the Lights lost wickets in quick succession.

Tray Gayle (11) was caught off pacer Andre McCarthy and Nickarie Johnson (two) became Spence’s second victim, they were left in a spot of bother at 146-8.

But the Lights weren’t done just yet and Virgo (29) and Graham (30), partnered in a ninth-wicket stand of 42 with some well-played strokes, before the latter, who struck four boundaries, was bowled by Parnell.

Seeking to add to his three boundaries, Virgo went for another big strike, but only managed to pick out Parnell in the deep and handed McCarthy his second wicket.

McCarthy ended with 2-34; Parnell had 2-48 and Williams, 2-45. It was by no means a tidy bowling performance by the Sparkes, as extras accounted for 42 runs in the total.

The Sparkes’ reply commenced similar to that of the Lights, as Graham had Kashawn Beale caught behind for nought with the score at 12-1.

Denell Stewart (30), the aggressive left-hander and Andre McCarthy (23) went on the attack and struck three boundaries apiece, as they put the Lights bowling to the task with a 43-run second-wicket stand.

But both fell in quick succession being bowled by Virgo and Graham respectively, and the Lights were suddenly the ones with the smiles on their faces. Captain Brad Barnes seemed well set in a slight drizzle, but he only managed 13, and when he fell the chances of the Sparkes became dim.

They lost three wickets in quick succession and two well-played innings by top scorer Nikita Tracy (42) and Ian Spence (40), brought them within touching distance of the target, but they just came up short in the end.