Village odds on to clinch the title
Improving Jamaican Association put a major dent in Hamilton Parish’s hopes of claiming their first Commercial Cricket League title with a three-wicket victory that has left North Village odds-on favourites to be crowned champions for the second time in three seasons.
The Parish reverse came on a weekend when they could have leapfrogged over Village, who had a bye, and set up a title decider between the clubs on August 19, the final weekend of league matches.
Now Village, who hold a three-point lead over Parish with a game in hand, can clinch the title on July 22 when they meet Fine Leg Byes at Shelly Bay.
Eight-man FLB were on the receiving end of a thrashing on Sunday when Jahson Smith became the second St. David’s player to rattle up a century this season, smashing 16 boundaries in a unbeaten 101 to mastermind a five-wicket victory.
BC Allrounders remained rooted to the bottom of the table after suffering a crushing eight-wicket defeat at the hands of West Indian Association while a series of pitch problems forced Western Stars and Forties to postpone their fixture.
A broken well water pump meant Stars’ St. John’s Field pitch could not be prepared, then hopes of switching the fixture to Saltus were dashed when it was discovered the school ground had been dug up to reposition the artificial cricket strip.
JA’s hard-earned victory — thanks to a gritty half-century by opener Donovan Livingston — came after they won the toss and dismissed Parish for 153 in the 31st over at Shelly Bay.
Alvin Baker was Parish’s top scorer before he was run out for 35 while Corey Hill made 25 and skipper Irving Burgess 22.
Skipper Ian Coke was the pick of the JA attack, claiming four for 28 in 6.1 overs, while Tony Parks bagged three for 36 from six and David Gibbs two for 51 from 12.
With 53 overs at their disposal, JA reached their target in the 42nd over thanks to Livingston’s 55 which included three fours. Six of the wickets were shared by Cal Burgess (two for 16 from nine), Curtis Lee (two for 27 from eight) and Hill (two for 53 from 13).
“We had to fight really hard to make those runs,” admitted JA spokesman Glenmore Barrett.
St. David’s made FLB pay for turning up three short by making light of their victory target of 188 at Garrison Field, in a match reduced to 40 overs a side because of a late start, as Smith, batting at No. 4, plundered seven sixes and nine fours. Ricky Foggo made 30.
Craig Smith took two for 33 from seven and earlier made 41, including four sixes and four fours, as FLB were dismissed for 187 in 36 overs after openers Mervin Muckler and Ishwar Narayanan added 76, Muckler’s 51 including two sixes and six fours. David Gibbons finished unbeaten on 49 (two sixes and seven fours).
Aaron Crockwell, who hit a century in May, was St. David’s most successful bowler with two for 70 from 15 overs.
“Smith was dropped once but he just kept on caning us,” said FLB skipper Troy Berkeley.
WIA easily overhauled BC Allrounders’ 142 at the Warren Simmons Community Field (formerly the Royal Naval Field), reaching their target in the 22nd over for the loss of only two wickets.
Hamlett (33 not out) and Reginald Pitcher (27) were the chief run-getters in WIA’s 143 for two from 21.1 overs.
Despite slumping to their sixth straight defeat, Allrounders’ upbeat player-coach Andre Smith said: “There are still positive vibes, we had several new players this week and nobody is getting discouraged.”
This weekend’s schedule will feature four more League Cup matches in which first-round winners Village, Forties, Parish and St. David’s can all press their claims for a place in the semi-finals on August 26.
