St Thomas, Jamaica- Those who turned out at the Factories Oval in St Thomas on Sunday June 19, were not left disappointed as Greater Portmore put on a batting masterclass to beat Eastwood Park by 82 runs.
With both teams coming off wins in their opening game of the group, Sunday’s game was seen as a top of the table clash, with the grand prize being a spot in the knockout phase of the competition. It was Eastwood Park who called right at the toss and with a powerful batting line-up decided to bowl first. National youth representative Nicholas Lewin and all-rounder Ryan Francis got the team off to a flying start as the two posted 54 runs for the first wicket. Lewin was the early aggressor as he struck two sixes and as many fours in getting to 27 runs from 19 balls. Francis added another 33 runs with Rushane Gordon who made 16 runs as Greater Portmore was approaching the 100 run mark inside the first 10 overs.
However, a spell of three overs same Greater Portmore losing four wickets for 24 runs. The slide started with the dismissal of Gordon who was bowled by Jason Russell. horrible mix-up between national youth representative Brandon English and Francis, resulted in the latter being run out for 44, his innings consisting of six fours and two sixes. Having been involved in the run-out of the set, batsman English edged one to wicketkeeper Milton Hamilton the next ball as he went for 8 runs.
Things got even worse for Greater Portmore when captain and hard-hitting batsman Aaron Daley hold-out to deep mid-wicket on his first ball as the team slipped to 111 runs for 5wickets. Jamie Haye stepped up to bat and the powerfully built right-hander signaled his intentions early, hammering his first delivery from Russell for 6. That would set the tone for a magnificent time at the crease as Haye sent spectators scampering to all parts in a destructive inning of 104, not out in just 33 balls. Haye targeted the deep mid-wicket and long-on boundaries with the occasional straight hit clearing the trees beyond the northern end.
Haye was particularly severe in the 15th over as he ripped apart Jonathan Solomon taking 30 runs from his solitary over. Hayne slammed four sixes in the over as officials were busy tossing replacement balls to the umpire. Haye would eventually bring up his century fittingly with a six in the final over as he ended not out on 104 runs from just 33 balls.
The Greater Portmore innings came to a close at 238 for 5 as kimani Morgan was also not out on 17. Regardless of the onslaught from Haye Russell managed to end with figures of 3wickets for 40 runs from his four overs.
Despite also bolstering a fearsome batting line-up reaching a victory mark of 239 runs was always going to be a tall ask of Eastwood Park, but if they had any thoughts of getting their openers Domaine Wright and Kymani Wilson had to get them off to a good start. After getting 20 runs from the first two overs the next four would only give them 18 runs. The partnership was broken at 30 runs as wright was removed for 12 runs. It soon became 32 runs for 2 wickets and then 39 runs for 3 wickets as both Wilson 8 runs and Juse Northover 4 runs joined wright in the pavillion. There would be no up turn for Eastwood Park as they found themselves at 58 runs for 5 wickets thanks to Ryan Forrest, who picked up a wicket in three consecutive overs.
Soloman, who had conceded 30 runs in his one over, returned to return the favor, but those plans didn’t materialize despite hitting three sixes and a four. Solomon made 32 runs before becoming one of two wickets for Francis, the other being that of Fabian Forbes for 11.
Eastwood Park batted out their 20 overs, reaching 156 runs for 7 wickets. Milton Hamilton was left unbeaten on 33 runs as Forrest had 3 wickets for 33 runs.
With the win, Greater Portmore is now assured a spot in the National competition’s knockout phase.
The day’s second clash was a stroll in the park for St Mary’s Days Mountain over home team Yallahs.
Yallahs struggles started from the third ball of the innings when Rheino Sinclair fell for a duck.
There was some light in a 63 run second-wicket stand between captain Kenroy Williams and Dwayne Goslin, who was dropped no less than four times throughout his innings.
But after Williams went for 28 runs inside over number six, the innings failed to get off the ground and Yallahs were eventually bundled out for 128 runs inside 17 overs.
Goslin was the top scorer with 42 runs in a chance filled as only Michael Clarke and Deavion Williams got to double figures from there as Yallahs lost their last seven wickets for just 38 runs.
Marlon Williams bagged 4 wickets for 12 runs, including the wickets of Williams and Goslin, while Anthony Mclean had 3 wickets for 27 runs.
Now Needing a win to keep their hopes alive, Renar Ross, with a classy 53 runs set the tempo for the innings as he was both aggressive and stylish in his approach, hitting 5 sixes and 3 fours in the process before retiring hurt.
His opening partner Anthony Mclean anchored the innings home hitting 3 sixes and 4 fours in an unbeaten 54, taking his team to victory at 129 runs without loss with five overs to spare. They are in need of just one win now to make the knockout phase.
Over a Boscobel Oval, the home team, thanks to half-centuries from Alwyn Williams and Orlando Lyons, quickly brushed aside St John’s East by 10 wickets. Ronald Gooden with 4 wickets for 31 runs and Tyrone Daley 2 wickets for 12runs combined to restrict St John’s East to 132 runs for 9 wickets, of which Junior Morrison got 62 runs. Wiliams with 66 runs and and lyon with 64 runs then took Boscobel to victory at 137 runs without loss.
In the other game at Boscobel Amoi Campbell, with a top score of 53 runs led Links United to a 10 wicket win over Buff Bay United. With 69 runs set to win, Links United got across the line at 70 for none in just 5.2 overs. Fast Bowler Ojay Shields had earlier picked up 3 wickets for 4 runs, dismissing Buff Bay for just 68 in 14.3 overs.
At the Manley Horne Field, Albert Gopie was easily the player of the round as his 150 led Racecourse to a 169 run win over Spicy Hill. Despite a magnificent century from Jamie Haye for Greater Portmore at Factories Oval in St Thomas, Gopie was at his amazing best as he led Racecourse to a massive 294 runs for 3 wickets from their 20 overs. Krishmar Santokie supported with 47 runs while Jermaine Thomas made 38 runs. In their chase Spicy Hill was blown away for 125 runs with Clayton Small making 36 runs and Carliston Johnson socring 23 runs. Sherwayne Allen claimed 3 wickets for 6 runs while Santokie returned to take 2 wickets for 25 runs. In the other game at Manley Horne, Junction/Bull Savanna had a 7 wickets win over South Stars. Batting first, South Stars was bowled out for 148 runs on the back of Allen Powell 42 runs against 4 wickets for 24 runs from Trace Powell and 3 wickets for 22 runs from Romario Banton. Damian Ebanks 83 runs and Brian Gayle 32 runs then took Junction to victory at 153 wins for 3 wickets.
At French Park Comfort CC were easy 99 run winners over Clarks Town. Comfort first made 186 runs for 8 wickets from their allotted overs, thanks to 74 runs from Zidane Gordon and 35 runs from Damion Bryce. This as Damain Smith claimed 4 wickets for 36 runs and Osburn Palmer 2 wickets for 15 runs. Clarks Town was then rolled over for 87 runs despite Dhone Johnson getting 52 runs. Jerome Lewis had 3 wickets for 20 runs, while Bryce picked up 3 wickets for 23 runs.
It was a real battle in the second game at French Park as White Horses defeated Whitehouse by 29 runs. White Horses first made 178 runs for 5 wickets with Yahf Gould 81 runs and Chevon Simpson 22 runs leading the way. Kevin Samuels picked up 2 wickets for 40 runs for Whitehouse. In their time at bat, Whitehouse were bowled out for 151 runs in 18.5 overs. Lamar Campbell made 40 runs while Ziggy Levy made 32 runs and Carson Ebanks 32 runs. Romaine McCalla was the leading wicket-taker for White Horses bagging 4 wickets for 18 runs, while Fitzroy Anderson had 2 wickets for 32 runs.
Meanwhile, Albert Gopie, with his 150 runs in Race Courses victory over Spicy Hill at Manley Horne and Jamie Haye, with is 104 not out from 33 balls for Greater Portmore in their win over Eastwood Park at Factories Oval share the spotlight this week as the most outstanding players of the round.
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