Damian Ebanks, the captain of five-time former champions Junction/Ballard’s Valley, is playing down the favourites’ tag ahead of their clash with Fairfield United in the Social Development Commission (SDC)/Cal’s Community Twenty20 (T20) cricket final at Port Rhoades Sports Club in St Ann.

Match time is set for 2:30 this afternoon.

Junction/Ballard’s Valley of St Elizabeth, who have a perfect record in the national final, have been imperious this season, their only defeat coming against Racecourse of Clarendon.

But Fairfield of Manchester, who have won the SDC T20 national title once and also have never lost a final, have been just as impressive during the 2023 campaign.

Incidentally, Fairfield’s only loss this season came in an immensely tense contest with Junction/Ballard’s Valley.

“There are no favourites here because both teams have been playing well,” Ebanks told the Jamaica Observer on the eve of the expected humdinger in Discovery Bay.

“That victory against Fairfield is in the past, we have to put that behind us. Tomorrow is a new day and a new game.”

Though expressing respect for the many-time former winners, Fairfield’s skipper Brian Clarke indicated that his team is well placed to turn the tables.

“One could say we are coming back to correct the wrongs against a really good team. If that match earlier this year is anything to go by — it went right down to the wire — I expect similar excitement, but just with us coming out on top this time,” he told the Observer.

Given the keen competitiveness between the teams and the wider cricketing rivalry between neighbouring parishes St Elizabeth and Manchester, pundits are bracing for a spectacle.

“Junction/Ballard’s Valley, we are playing some very good cricket, I think we are peaking at the right time,” the Junction/Ballard’s Valley skipper said.

“We just need to play our brand of cricket in which players play their respective roles. This final is always going to be a very good game of cricket — both teams are playing well,” Ebanks reiterated.

Clarke noted that Fairfield United must tick three important boxes in their pursuit of victory.

“We need to top Junction in the three disciplines — batting, bowling, and fielding — and execute our plans, and we’ll come out on top,” the Fairfield captain said.

“Junction is not a team that you can take lightly as their record shows. They have been in five finals and won five; however, we are a strong team and I know we have that ability to come out and get the job done,” he ended.

The winners are set to pocket a prize of $1.5 million, while $750,000 is to be paid to the second-place team. Third- and fourth-place finishers are to pocket $375,000 and $187,500, respectively.

In two precursor T10 contests at the venue, Talented Blazers of St Catherine are set to battle the Angels of St Mary in the women’s match at 9:30 am, while Westmoreland Masters square off against Portland Masters at 11:30 am.