FLORENCE HALL, Trelawny — Half-Way-Tree Sparks and University Dynamites marched into the championship match of the Tourism Enhancement Fund-sponsored Jamaica Premier League (JPL) Twenty20 tournament after pulling off contrasting wins against May Pen Earthquakes and Spanish Town Titans in the semi-finals yesterday at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

The final will be contested this afternoon at the same venue, starting at 1:00.

In the rain-affected thriller, the Half-Way-Tree Sparks survived a late scare to pip the Earthquakes by five runs to book their spot.

Scores: Half-Way-Tree Sparks 117-2 (18 overs); May Pen Earthquakes 112-6 (18 overs).

Taking first strike, the Sparks struggled on a sluggish batting surface to muster 117-2 in the contest reduced to 18 overs per side.

Simon Jackson carved four boundaries to topscore with 53 not out in as many deliveries and shared an unbeaten thirdwicket stand of 60 with Yannick Elliott, who made an undefeated, quickfire 36.

Damion Grey and national left-arm pacer Sheldon Cotterell took one wicket each.

Jackson, who was named the player of the match, said it was a “tough wicket to bat on”, but added that “things got easier” the longer he stayed at the crease.

In their chase, the Earthquakes fell short despite opener Ordane Hutchinson (42), Errol Marshall (28) and Kemar Marshall (26) playing useful knocks.

In fact, after a pitifully slow start from May Pen, Hutchinson and Thomas put on a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket, which meant the team needed 12 runs from the final over of the match.

Though giving up a wide and a no-ball, Sparks’ seamer Fabian Forbes (2-27) managed to keep May Pen at bay. Spinners Christopher Lamont and Elliott finished with one wicket apiece.

In the opening match, Spanish Town went down to a surprise nine-wicket loss in a low-scoring encounter to the University team under overcast conditions.

Scores: Spanish Town Titans 58-8 (20 overs); University Dynamites 61-1 (13 overs).

The Titans took first strike but lost top order batsmen Oraine Williams (15), captain Tamar Lambert (5), Danza Hyatt (9), Wayne Morgan (7) and Ravmon Powell (10) and were ultimately restricted for a painstaking 58-8 off the allotted 20 overs.

Spinner Peat Salmon starred with 3-10 off four overs to win the man-of-the-match award.

National pacer Andrew Richardson, bowling for the University team, grabbed 2-12, while Coi Thompson took 1-5.

In search of a meagre target, the Dynamites eased home with seven overs to spare.

National batsman Nkrumah Bonner made only 11, but Jon-Ross Campbell, who struck 28 not out, and Shacoya Thomas, with an unbeaten 15, put on a second-wicket stand of 46 to seal the win.