Ken’s Wildflower were crowned champion of the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum/Portmore Cricket Association Club T/20 Championship after beating first-time finalist Belmont CC by five wickets at Bridgeport on Sunday.

Outgoing champion Portmore Pines CC took third place after defeating Washington CC by 124 runs.

Chasing a mere 82 for victory, Ken’s Wildflower comfortably got to their target with 10 balls to spare in what turned out to be a one-sided game.

Scores: Belmont 81-all out (19.4 overs); Ken’s Wildflower 82-5 (18.2 overs).

Sent in to bat, Belmont got off to a terrible start and never recovered as they were outdone by both pace and spin on a slow, flat pitch. Middle-order batsman David Morgan top-scored with 23 (25 balls), which contained one four and a six in his team’s disappointing total. Robert Herron chipped in with 19 (27 balls), blasting only three boundaries, while Ryan Francis added only 13 (15 balls).

Oshane Wilson took 3-3 from three overs and Ravmon Powell grabbed 3-4 from four overs for Ken’s Wildflower. They got support from Aaron Graham, who claimed 2-28.

In reply, needing to score at exactly 4.1 runs per over to win, captain Oraine Williams led the successful run chase with a patient knock of 34 not out (41 balls), smashing only two boundaries to guide Ken’s Wildflower over the line. He was supported by West Indies and national batsman Danza Hyatt, who made a run-a-ball 15, including one four and a six. Powell chipped in with 10 (15 balls).

Germaine Gordon (3-12) was Belmont’s best bowler.

Williams said that he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It was a team effort today (Sunday). The team really played well throughout the tournament. The bowlers did well enough to restrict Belmont to less than 90 runs, a very comfortable target for the batsmen to get. Unfortunately we lost five wickets in the process. but it was completely a team effort and I thank the guys for the win as every player played an important role in the victory,” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

Meanwhile, taking first strike in a game reduced to 15 overs, Peat Salmon stroked a superb half-century as Portmore Pines amassed 223-2. Salmon, who was asked to open the batting in the absence of Damian Bryce, blasted nine fours and six maximums off a mere 44 balls on his way to 92 not out. He also shared a second-wicket partnership of 127 runs with Norman Jackson, who made 47 (31 balls), which contained seven fours and a six. Salmon then combined with national batsman Yanique Elliott to post a further 85 runs for the third wicket. Elliott was not out on 38 (18 balls).

In reply, Washington, who were playing with seven players, were bowled out for 99 off 11 overs. Opener Ronville Brown was left not out on 47 (30), which included five fours and two sixes. Odane Hartley 28 (12 balls) was the other batsman to get into double figures against Jermaine Bennett 4-5.

Scores: Portmore Pines 223-2 (15 overs); Washington 99-6 (11 overs).