THE fifth and final preliminary round of matches in the Kingston Wharves Under-15 cricket competition is set to bowl off on Monday at several venues across the island, with one of the highlights being the match between defending champions Manchester and St Catherine Cricket Association, at Port Esquivel.

The clash will determine which of the two teams will join zone winner St Mary in the quarter-finals.

Manchester, who won the competition when it was last staged in 2019, prior to the novel coronavirus pandemic, have four points.

In Manchester’s first match this campaign they suffered a 33-run loss after they were skittled out for 75 in reply to St Mary’s 108. They recovered to win the next two matches, against St Ann and more recently Clarendon on Thursday.

In Thursday’s encounter at Race Course the hosts Clarendon made 142 all out. Dejauni West, who contributed 40, was their top scorer. For Manchester, Daniel McClymont bagged five for 28 while Mark Barnett supported with three for 25.

Manchester responded with a quick-fire 143-1 in 20 overs and two balls. McClymont shone with the bat, making 52 not out.

St Catherine Cricket Association, also sitting on four points, won their first match against Clarendon before sharing the spoils in a tie with St Ann and a rained-out contest against St Mary.

The competition began with 17 teams spread across four zones.