Melbourne, Kensington reach JCA 50-over final
Melbourne Cricket Club and Kensington Cricket Club are set to do battle for the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) 50-over title after both registered comfortable victories in their respective semi-final matches last Saturday.
Paul Palmer-captained Melbourne CC defeated Lucas by eight wickets in a low-scoring contest at Nelson Oval, which saw Melbourne posting 142-2 off 28.4 overs in reply to Lucas’s 141 all out in 41 overs.
After winning the toss and inviting Lucas to bat, Melbourne made early inroads, snaring two quick wickets with just four runs on the board.
However, a 50-run partnership between opener Raymond Hall, who had four boundaries a knock of 32, and Daniel Beckford, who had four boundaries in his 44, gradually steadied the innings for Lucas, before their wickets resulted in a middle-order collapse.
Melbourne then swept past the target with minimum fuss, thanks to a 88-run, second-wicket stand between Palmer (46) and young opener Abijhai Mansingh, who was left unbeaten on 58. Mansingh’s 94-ball knock included five boundaries, while Palmer was more aggressive, stroking eight boundaries in his 53-ball knock.
“I expected a different game from Lucas, but our bowlers executed well as the plan was to keep it tight. So it was a very good performance from the entire team,” Palmer said in a post-game interview.
Meanwhile, the Denniel Griffiths-captained Kensington got the better of Kingston Cricket Club by three wickets in their contest at Kensington Park.
Scores: Kingston CC 170 (44.3 overs); Kensington 171-7 (45.3 overs)
Kingston CC, asked to take first strike, could only manage 170 all out off in overs, despite a top score of 68 from Kirk Harris, who slammed six boundaries and a solitary six in his knock. No other batsman really got going as Lionel Morant (16) and Paul Harrison (16) were the next best scorers.
Griffiths led his team’s bowling attack 3-37 off 9.5 overs, with support coming from Delbert Gayle (2-24) and Warren Campbell (2-25).
Despite the moderate target, Kensington made heavy weather of the chase, as they were pressed on the back foot at 94-6 at one point, before Campbell (38) and David Bernard Jr with an unbeaten 31, shared in a match-winning seventh-wicket stand valuing 68 runs.
Paul Harrison (3-29) and Patrick Harty (2-25) had best bowling figures for Lucas.
The final is scheduled to be played on Saturday at Chedwin Park.