Melbourne, St Elizabeth in national Junior Cup finals

Melbourne CC and St Elizabeth CA will meet this weekend's all-island Junior Cup grande finale after recording big wins in their respective finals on Sunday.

In the Corporate Area final played at Kensington Oval, Yannick Elliott bagged match figures of eight for 79 in helping Melbourne to a comprehensive innings and 11 runs victory over St Catherine CC.

Melbourne's deserved victory over their arch-rivals was set up on last Saturday's opening day when half-century knocks from Tafari Williams (93), Ryan Strachan (66) and Jowayne Robinson saw the Kangaroos posting a mammoth 362 all out.

Dean Morgan (3-108) and Oraine Williams (2-21) were the most successful bowlers for St Catherine on a customary placid Kensington wicket.

Morgan, a regular in the Saints senior team, showed his class with an attacking 117, but wickets fell rapidly at the other end as St Catherine were dismissed for 195 in 70 overs.

Christopher Lamont (5-54) and Elliott (5-64) shared the wickets as Melbourne sealed first-innings honours on the second day. Still trailing by 167 runs and faced with the improbable task to score an outright victory, St Catherine went for quick runs after Melbourne enforced the follow-on.

It was never going to happen, as Elliott (3-15) and Shamar Anderson (3-51) made the improbable impossible for St Catherine, who were bowled out for 156 in 42.5 overs.

Junior Stewart (36) and Garth Garvey (34) offered most resistance as Melbourne raced to an emphatic win.

At Chedwin Park, Super League outfit St Elizabeth proved too strong for Senior Cup side St Catherine parish, winning by nine wickets.

All-round performances spearheaded by former national youth captain Donovan Nelson and current national Under-19 skipper Paul Palmer Jr steered St Elizabeth home to a comfortable win before tea on Sunday.

Batting first, St Catherine made 166 all out with Erron Downer (38) and Dujon Gordon (36) top-scoring against Nelson's three for 46.

In reply St Elizabeth responded with 206 all out with Palmer stroking 87, while receiving some support from Sheldon Samuels, who made 39.

Terrence Brown captured three wickets for one run, while Robert Brown bagged three for 48.

The game then took a dramatic twist when St Catherine, trailing by 40 runs on first innings, collapsed and were dismissed for 77 in 29.2 overs.

Again Nelson masterminded the attack against the Crusaders, grabbing two scalps for a run, while Omar Samuels claimed two victims for three runs.

Damion Wright top-scored with 36.

Set 38 runs to win St Elizabeth rushed to 40 for one with Brian Gayle not out on 30 and Desmond James unbeaten on nine against Michael Donegal, 1-20.

The all-island final is set for Kensington Oval.

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