Domtar defeated St Ann by one run to win the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Masters Cricket competition at the Ultimate Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Scores: Domtar 190-8 (30 overs); St Ann 189-8 (30 overs).

Domtar won the toss and decided to take first strike on a sporting pitch. The openers found the going tough as St Ann’s new ball pair of Noel DaCosta and Corey Phillips bowled with skill and control up front and accounted for Domtar’s openers with only 36 on the board after eight overs.

The reliable pair of Delroy Morgan (29) and Wayne Cuff put on a 34-run partnership to begin the recovery of Domtar after they had also lost Ralston Nelson for 13. Cuff was to feature in two more significant partnerships — 43 with Hugh Meridith (7) and 37 with captain Simeon Jackon (11 not out) for the sixth wicket. When Cuff got out to Lenroy Henry, off the last ball of the innings, he had faced 63 balls and struck two sixes and four fours in his 84. His effort left St Ann to chase 191 for victory. Leslie Talbert, with 2-27 from three overs, and Lenroy Henry with 2-32 from four overs were the chief wicket takers for St Ann.

St Ann started off much better than Domtar, as their openers put on a 33-run stand for the first wicket. They lost their second wicket with the score on 90 when Lenroy Henry was bowled by Ralston Nelson for 31. This brought the prolific pair of Martin Clarke and Captain Orville Pennant together. However, the partnership had only contributed 24 runs when Clarke was run out by a direct hit by Meridith for 41 – which included four fours and a six. Pennant found a useful partner in Rohan Frater and the pair batted sensibly and ran well between the wickets, causing concerns fr the Domtar team.

Domtar were thrown a lifeline when Pennant was caught off the bowling of Ralston Nelson for 44. At this stage St Ann were still in the driver’s seat and the new batsman Corey Phillips continued with Frater in a 20-run partnership to push home St Ann’s advantage. Just when it seemed St Ann had cantered home, Frater was bowled by Nelson for 14, leaving St Ann with 17 runs to win off three overs with five wickes still in hand.

Delroy Morgan, belatedly introduced into the attack, bowled a tight 28th over, conceding just four runs. From the other end, Captain Jackson introduced Mark English and, despite bowling a wide delivery in the tense situation, only six runs came off the 29th over and the wicket of Noel Dacosta (12) was also snared. This set the stage for the thrilling finale as Fitzroy Bolt joined Phillips at the wicket. Bolt, facing the start of the last over bowled by Morgan, got two off the first ball and then a single off the next to give the strike to Phillips. Phillips got two runs off the third ball then lost his wicket off the fourth – bowled and caught Morgan for 12. The batsmen crossed while the ball was in the air, so that the new batsman Christopher Wilson could watch from the non-striker’s end as the more senior partner Bolt push for victory. With two balls to go, St Ann required three runs to win. Bolt played the fifth ball to deep point for two and was back in place at the striker’s end only to see the umpire signal that he had run one short.

One ball, two runs to win, the Domtar skipper brought in his field, daring the batsman to go over the top, and the challenge was accepted by Bolt. However, he only succeeded in ‘skying’ the ball and the St Ann players and supporters heart sank as they saw the safe hands of Delroy Morgan clutch the ball as it came down. Domtar had prevailed in the tightest of finishes.

For Domtar, Ralston Nelson ended with 3-34 off his six overs, while Delroy Morgan took 2-10 off two overs.