PORT Antonio High defeated Titchfield High School by three wickets as the GraceKennedy JIIC Headley Cup knockout cricket competition started earlier this week.

The competition was officially launched at Folly Oval where GraceKennedy JIIC Finance Manager Rohan Scarlett announced that the competition is being sponsored to the tune of “$9.5 million dollars and the top academic student will get $100,000 up from $70,000 to study at a local tertiary institution for three years”.

Currently four students have been awarded with three studying at the University of Technology, Jamaica and the other student is overseas.

Colonel Errol Johnson, principal of St Mary High School and chair of rural cricket, commended the JIIC for their sponsorship and said the programme will be in four phases — Under-14, Under-16, the Knockout (limited overs) and the Headley Cup league.

He reminded the competitors that discipline should be maintained and the competitions should be completed by mid-May. The games will be contested on different days of the week so that the students’ education will not be affected.

Titchfield batting first were bowled out for 66 runs, as Orlando Drysdale took four wickets for nine runs and Neville Doure had four wickets for eight runs. In reply Keron Burke was not out for 25 runs as Anthony Jervis took two wickets for 25 runs and Brighton Kinlock had two wickets for 12 runs, as the winners struggled to 67 for the loss of seven wickets.