The 2025 season of the PowerGen SSCL Premiership Division got going on Tuesday, 21 January, at cricket grounds across the country. St. Mary’s College made a flying start to last season’s campaign, notching 3 wins in a row. “The Saints” were looking to repeat this in 2025 and hosting newly-promoted Toco Secondary in Round 1 seemed to be just the thing to get their season off and running. The Toco lads made the long journey from the far north-east coast into the capital city of Port-of-Spain determined to prove that they belonged with the traditional “big boys” in the League’s top-tier division.
CIC captain Jesse Sookwah called correctly at the toss and elected to bat, trusting that his returning batters would give him a solid start. The opening bowlers for Toco did not get this memo, however, and snared 2 quick wickets to put the Saints in some early bother. Yearwood then found a solid partner in Mikaeel Ali, the pair of then adding 63 valuable runs. Their dismissals threatened to derail the innings, but a solid 30 from Ismaeel Mohammed and some lusty lower-order blows took the total to 212-8 from 44 overs. Surely this would be enough for their bowling department to defend.
After an early breakthrough by Khalfani Wiltshire, the Toco batters rallied to take their total to 46-1 at the end of the 15th over. Josiah began his spell in over number 14, conceding 5 runs. His next over brought his first wicket, a perfectly pitched leg-break that spun sharply to breach Marley Richards’ defense and bowl him for 20. What followed after was a beautiful display of quality spin bowling, solidifying Josiah’s growing reputation as one of St. Mary’s top bowlers. His hard work and dedication to his craft brought him success last season and he picked up right where he left off.
He continued his spell with five more overs on the trot, taking a wicket in all but one of them. His crafty variations and use of flight belied his young age and the Toco lads were left mesmerized. From 48-2 when Josiah took his first wicket, they crumbled to 85 all out in 27 overs. Josiah’s final figures of 5-19 off 7 contained just 2 boundaries and a solitary wide delivery. This was a testament to the work he put in during pre-season to control his accuracy and be disciplined with line and length. By far the most telling statistic of all is that from the 42 deliveries he bowled, an amazing 30 of them were dot balls.
Josiah Nicholls truly carries the weight of expectation on his young shoulders, but as he continues to prove, he is more than ready to bear it. St. Mary’s have in him a gem that, with a little more polish, will dazzle even more brilliantly. For his outstanding effort the SSCL proudly names him one of our Stars of the Week.
