KINGSTON Cricket Club Captain Akim Fraser has hailed his team’s performance, particularly that of Patrick Harty and Odean Smith, as they advanced to the final of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup final for the second year in a row.

Kingston CC progressed by virtue of securing first-innings honours over defending champions St Catherine CC in the drawn semi-final match at Kensington Park on Sunday.

Scores: Kingston CC 181 & 207-9; St Catherine CC 143.

In the other semi-final clash, Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) booked their final spot by defeating hosts St Mary Cricket Association by nine wickets at Three Hills.

Scores: St Mary 153 & 72; JDF 193 & 37-1.

Kingston CC’s Patrick Harty (left) bats as St Catherine CC’s Kennar Lewis (centre) and wicketkeeper Oraine Williams look on during the Senior Cup semi-final cricket match at Kensington Park on Sunday.
(Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Beginning their second innings with a first-innings lead of 38 runs at Kensington, Kingston’s openers Nicholas Nelson and Geordae Seymour started well with a 38-run partnership within the first seven overs. However, St Catherine made the breakthrough and felt they had the upper hand as, after first removing Nelson for 16, they had Kingston CC struggling at 72 for five inside 17 overs.

But when West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith took the crease, Kingston CC regained control as he hit a 69-ball 65 which included three fours and three sixes, leading them to 169 for 8. His dismissal shortly before tea gave Kingston a lead of 207.

Needing two wickets to wrap up the innings, St Catherine were unable to break down the resilience of Fraser and Harty who soaked up 134 balls as the end of play drew closer. Fraser was eventually given lbw for 35 but the rain came down immediately, putting an end to the match and ensuring Kingston CC’s progression.

Despite missing a few key players, Fraser was impressed with his team’s showing over the two days.

“We knew this game would have been a tough one; St Catherine is a team that beat us in the final last year. We knew both teams would have been without a number of national representatives but it would have been a quality game all the same. I’m really happy with how my team performed — a lot of the younger players have stepped up this season,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Fraser also had high praises for Harty whose figures of 7 for 36 virtually secured first-innings advantage for Kingston CC.

“He’s been brilliant this season. I think this is our seventh game of the season [and so far] he has six five-wicket hauls and 60 plus wickets in the competition. He’s a top performer — the best left-arm spinner in the country in my opinion — so credit must go to him. He takes so much pressure off the team; he makes the game really easy for me to captain and control because he gives me so much control from one end. He bowls tight overs, he gets wickets, and it allows me to rotate things from the other end, set the field, and apply pressure in the game,” said Fraser.

He also described Smith’s second-innings half-century performance as pivotal as it saw the team take full control of the semi-final.

“He’s a top player. We’d love to see him back in West Indies colours and back on the circuit but he’s here; we appreciate him giving us his time and putting in key performances like this. He had a good performance this weekend and was very good last weekend as well in a similar situation,” Fraser said.

The Senior Cup final is scheduled for April 27-28.