DOMTAR were crowned champions of the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Masters T/20 Cricket Competition on Sunday in an exciting final at the Kensington Cricket Club in Kingston, after defeating the previously unbeaten St Catherine Parish by eight wickets.

Domtar made 108 for 2 in 16.3 overs in reply to St Catherine’s 107 for 8 in 20 overs.

A large crowd was on hand for the final which began at 2:00 pm. St Catherine won the toss and were on the back foot from the second over, losing two wickets in the over with just two runs on the board.

Wickets went down at regular intervals after that and they never looked like the unbeaten team of the competition as they negotiated the tight bowling of Domtar. The St Catherine batsmen who were able to get into double figures were Bevin Harris with 28, Douglas Brown with 24, and Nicholas Lawrence with 15, while the successful bowlers were Delroy Morgan and Kenny Isaacs, who got two wickets each.

Domtar in reply romped home with 3.3 overs remaining after posting 108 for 2 on the back of Delroy Morgan’s 56 off 45 deliveries with four fours and a six. Wayne Cuff, 23, and Junior Ricketts, 14, gave good support. The two wickets to fall went to Lloyd Spence and Lascele Davis.

Domtar’s captain Owen Lewin said: “We are happy to be this year’s champions after losing at the semi-final stage last year. It was a good team effort and we can now celebrate.”

The third place play-off between last year’s winners MICO Masters and May Pen Lions was the more exciting of the two matches. MICO approached the game as their final, while May Pen faltered at this same point in the competition last year. May Pen Lions were invited to bat and made a competitive total of 154 for 8 in 20 overs with Winston Osbourne getting a stroke-filled 86, including three fours and five sixes that delighted the very expressive crowd, while Howard Copeland chipped in with 30. They lost early wickets though with the scoreboard showing 0-1 and 21-3, but recovered well to post the challenging score. The most successful bowlers were Martin Miller (4-26-3), and Solomon (4-30-3).

MICO started well posting the highest opening partnership of the competition of 118. Opener Howard Harris was in punishing form for his 78, which featured 10 fours and five massive sixes in just 31 delivers. Orville Pennant, who was hit over the eye last week and had to visit the hospital, opened the batting with Harris and made a quick-fire 45 (two fours and three sixes).

Such was their dominance that at the end of the sixth over they were on 109 without loss. The two wickets to fall were shared between Dorrel Hall and Trevor Bryan. They ended with 155-2 in just 14.5 overs.

The awards ceremony followed immediately after the final with several special awards. Colin Buchanan of St Catherine (134) — the only century maker, received $5,000; Dorrel Hall of May Pen Lions — the most wickets in an innings (6-22), won $2,500; Lloyd Spence of St Catherine — 5-wicket-haul (5-27), won $2,500; Lascele Davis of St Catherine — hat-trick, won $5,000; Lloyd Spence of St Catherine — most catches by fielder (5 catches) received $5,000; best wicketkeeper shared by Noel Clarke of Portmore (seven stumpings and one catch), and Howard Harris of MICO (five stumpings and three catches), won $2,500 each; most wickets — Lloyd Spence of St Catherine (13 wickets); most runs — Winston Osbourne of May Pen Lions (260); man of the final — Delroy Morgan of Domtar won $5,000; most valuable player shared by Wayne Cuff (122 runs and five wickets) and Delroy Morgan (133 and three wickets) of Domtar won $5,000 each; most disciplined team — MICO, won a Sachin Tendulkar bat valued at $35,000, and batting tips valued at $10,000. The team placements were Fourth — May Pen Lions — $15,000; Third — MICO Masters — $30,000; Runners-up — St Catherine — $50,000, and the champions — Domtar — $75,000.