SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth - A Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) XI defeated a strong STETHS Invitational XI by 16 runs in their Twenty/20 exhibition game at the STETHS Sports Complex here yesterday.

On a pitch of uneven bounce and pace which made batting a struggle, the JCA XI first made 135-7 in their 20 overs before restricting STETHS Invitational - made up of STETHS past students as well as the allrounder Donovan Sinclair - to 119-6.

The game formed part of preparations for Jamaica's Stanford twenty20 quarter-final engagement against Nevis on Saturday in Antigua.

For the JCA XI, the in-form Danza Hyatt who topscored with 71 in Jamaica's first round win over the Bahamas in the Stanford Twenty20 was again the leading batsman hitting 47 from 45 balls with two sixes and four fours. He was best supported by David Bernard with a 28-ball 35 including a six and two fours.

West Indies fast bowler Daren Powell, who bowled off-breaks while he was part of the STETHS team back in the 1990s, took 2-17 from his four overs, while the naggingly accurate left arm spinner Nikita Miller took 2-12 and Shawn Findlay captured 2-8 with his medium pacers.

STETHS Invitational were set back early with the dismissal of Zeniffe Fowler (0) and Damion Ebanks (4) with just seven runs on the board. But former West Indies under-15 fast bowler Kamal Dennis smacked an unbeaten 34 from 30 balls while wicketkeeper/batsman Mel Wint was also unbeaten on 26 from 39 balls to give the fair-sized crowd some cheer.

The seamers took the wickets for the JCA XI: Bernard (2-17), Brendan Nash (2-16). Andre Russell (1-13) and Jermaine Lawson (1-19).

- GM

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