Buff Bay United are the new champions of the Sandals and Costley Construction-sponsored St Mary Big Bash T20 cricket tournament.

They defeated defending champions Gayle by four wickets in a pulsating finals at Mango Valley Oval in the parish on Sunday.

High Gate grabbed the third place spot by defeating Boscobel in the opening play-off match.

Gayle won the toss and elected to bat first under sunshine but were rocked by the Buff Bay opening bowlers who had them reeling at 31-5. It took a patient and unbeaten knock of 43 by national under-17 player Aan Ennis to restore some respectability to the scoresheet as they totalled 139-7 off their 20 overs. Ennis played some sweetly times drives, especially through the offside and was never troubled by the bowlers. Fengue Aarons slammed 26 while Mikhail Downer also chipped in with an invaluable 19.

Schoolboy Kemar Roper, who took 3-31, was the main destroyer of the Gayle innings and he was well supported by medium pacer Herman Henry, 2-28.

In their turn at the crease, Buff Bay United were always in control despite a middle order wobble and romped to 140-6. Lerome Tyrell led the way with a polished 46 which included a number of hard hit boundaries. Robert Weir made 39 and Attoy Newell 37.

A joyous Tyrell said his team was always confident that they could defeat the strong Gayle team and praised his bowlers for suffocating their opponent’s powerful top order.

Losing Captain Sheldon Pryce of Gayle lauded the winning team but said his team would be back and gunning for revenge the next time around.

St Mary Cricket Association First Vice-President Junior Mattison hailed both team for an exciting climax to what has been a very good competition despite rain disrupting a number of the matches. Mattison cited the emergence of young players like Ennis and Roper as one of the major successes of the tournament.

Jamaica Cricket Association President Wilford “Billy” Heaven, who was a guest at the event, was full of praise for the St Mary Cricket Association for its initiative in spreading the matches across the various grounds in the parish. He also noted the number of young national players emerging from the parish which he says bodes well for the future of Jamaica’s cricket.