Fairfield credit family spirit for SDC T20 triumph

The curtain came down on the 2024 Social Development Commission (SDC) National T20 cricket competition on Sunday with Fairfield United securing back-to-back titles, following a 30-run win over Links United in the final played at Chedwin Park.

The win enabled Fairfield United to join Junction and Old Harbour as the only back-to-back winners in the competition.

In the final Fairfield United posted 147 all out in 19.5 overs and then restricted Links United to 117 all out in 15.2 overs.

The final wicket of Nashawn Campbell, who was bowled by Roshawn McKenzie, prompted an invasion from the Manchester fans who celebrated another national T20 title with their players.

For winning player-manager Leighton Leslie, the victory has been in the making, as the team prepared and played as a family.

“Unlike the other community teams, Fairfield are a family. Some of the guys live together and we do a lot of things together. We don’t just come together and play, and that is one of the keys to our success.”

Leslie made it clear that an all-around team effort did the trick, but he had to single out players such as Gordon Bryan, Oshane Walters and Richard Thomas, who picked up four wickets for 17 runs to lead the Manchester team to victory.

“I have to tip my hat to those guys because they held things together as I came into the team late in the competition.”

Leslie added that Fairfield’s pre-tournament preparation had borne fruit.

“We play a lot of cricket in the off-season in mini-leagues here and there. We use that to build camaraderie and that is what we have over most teams.”

Losing captain Othniel Pennant of Links United was disappointed that his team wasn’t able to get over the line in their first SDC Final, but he was still happy that the team’s effort was good enough to highlight a greater cause.

“This competition is the only time that the players get a chance to come back to the community in St Ann, as most of us work outside. The SDC competition gets the community unified again and a lot of our supporters have been with us since 2007 when we were youths. We hope that this can just strengthen us and we can come back better.”

For their efforts, Fairfield walked away with $1.5 million while the runners-up Links United pocketed $750,000.