TWO big clashes take place in the LP Martin St Mary 35 Overs Elite Cricket Competition today. Gayle take on Bonny Gate at Boscobel Oval while Jack’s River go up against a confident Boscobel aggregation at Jack’s River.

At Boscobel Oval, highly touted Gayle will start favourites against Bonny Gate in the competition which is also sponsored by Costley Construction, Sandals Royal Plantation, and Sandals Dunn’s River.

Gayle are blessed with having a number of top St Mary players in their line-up, including skipper Sheldon Pryce, Antony Walters, Jevaughn Hinds, Jermaine Hinds, Mikhail Downer. With such players they have the batting and bowling firepower to topple Bonny Gate, who will be looking to skipper Javiere Green, and under-15 star Shevaughn Boyd, to keep them in the hunt.

Over at Jack’s River, the home team will be looking to their star man Lesmond Lewis, supported by talented youngsters Jiovanni Richardson and Tyreese Saunders, to lead them to victory. Boscobel, led by former national player Alwyn Williams, will welcome the return of Tyrone Daley from England as he joins the talented Zendai Williams in a top batting line-up. Both skippers are confident of victory.

St Mary Cricket Association First Vice-President Junior Mattison expects the games to be exciting as teams jostle for positions.

“The standard of play in the competition has been every high and we expect that to continue this weekend,” Mattison said. “Despite some setbacks due to the recent rains, we are pleased at the way the competition has been going. And hats off to our main sponsors L P Martin Funeral Home and Costley Construction for stepping up and ensuring that cricket remains vibrant in the parish of St Mary.”

L P Martin Funeral Home Executive Chairman Zachary Irwin pledged assistance in the development of the sport in the parish, saying the sponsorship of the competition is a partnership with the community, affording players a chance to showcase their talent.