Forties got off to a flying start in the Commercial Cricket League's traditional season opener by thrashing defending league champions Jamaican Association by 144 runs in the Memorial Trophy match.

The Jamaicans paid a heavy price for a hatful of dropped catches and the 33 wides they sent down.

It was the third Memorial triumph for Forties, last season's knockout winners, since the match was introduced in 2004 in memory of Commercial League cricketers who have died over the past 40 years, including North Village stalwart Wendell Lindsay, who was instrumental in providing the trophy.

Jamaican Association manager Glenmore Barrett admitted afterwards: "I was very disappointed with our performance. We were very indisciplined in the field. Our bowling was very rusty as well ¿ we played schoolboy cricket, to be honest.

"Our guys weren't really ready and we have to go back to the drawing board."

Slow bowler Braxton Stowe, later named man of the match, ripped the heart out of the Jamaican batting with a five-wicket haul after Harold Minors, who smashed three sixes and six fours in his 47-ball knock of

63 at number five, built on skipper Gordon Campbell's 37 from 43 balls to put the attack to the sword in a match in which bowlers were limited to five overs apiece.

After Minors' departure an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 40 between Blake West (27) and Hoyt Zuill (22), coupled with a total of 44 extras, helped Forties pile up a daunting 238 for seven from their 40 overs on a fast outfield at Garrison Field that was in immaculate condition.

The Jamaicans never recovered from losing two wickets with only four runs on the board and the only bright spot in their paltry 20.3-over total of 94 was a dashing knock by left-hander Omar Hart, a 26-year-old newcomer whose 37 at number three included four fours and two sixes.

Stowe finished with five for 28 from five overs while 16-year-old medium pacer Dylan DeSilva took two for 20 from five.

The most successful Jamaican bowlers were skipper Chris Daley (two for 20 from five) and Kevin Abrahams (two for 31 from five).

Skipper Campbell, who opened the innings after winning the toss, said:

"The highlights of our innings were the typically aggressive knock by Harold Minors and the unbroken eighth-wicket stand by Blake West and Hoyt Zuill.

"But just about everyone chipped in with a few, including Mr. Extras.

Jamaican Association are also not accustomed to dropping as many catches as they did."

He added: "I know they felt under pressure because of our total and many of them fell going for the big hit a little too early."

In the first round of league matches, starting this weekend, Forties return to Garrison Field to take on BC Allrounders, St. David's travel west to face Ernst & Young at Warren Simmons Community Field while Jamaican Association open the defence of their league title against North Village at Shelly Bay.