Jamaican win keeps pressure on leaders
Jamaican Association kept the pressure on Commercial Cricket League leaders Hemisphere Leg Trappers with a crushing nine-wicket win over Police Recreation Club on Sunday.
But Leg Trappers maintained their 131 -point advantage over the Jamaicans with a comfortable seven-wicket victory against St. David's while third-placed North Village regained their winning touch after two successive defeats with a four-wicket triumph over 10-man Public Transportation Board.
Forties continued their move up the table with an unconvincing four-wicket victory over nine-man West End Warriors.
Donovan Livingston and Ian Coke shared an unbroken second-wicket stand of 81 to pilot Jamaican Association to victory at Police Field after dismissing the home club for 119.
Livingston's unbeaten 62 included nine fours and a six while Coke, who hit the winning boundary, made 35 not out as the Jamaicans raced home with more than 17 overs to spare.
Earlier only Michael Jackman came to terms with the Jamaican pace attack of David Gibbs and Michael Campbell, blasting five fours and a six -- including 22 from five balls in one Gibbs over -- in a whirlwind knock of 39. Gibbs withstood the onslaught, however, to claim four for 53 while Campbell took three for 29. Jackman also claimed the only Jamaican wicket, having skipper Norman Godwin caught for 17.
"We're were beaten, battered and bruised,'' admitted Police player Dawson Dates afterwards.
Former Bailey's Bay player Jermaine Outerbridge cracked eight fours and a six in a quickfire 48 and ex-Forties batsman Leon Dickinson made 44 as Public Transportation Board totalled 151 at Shelly Bay but their efforts were in vain as North Village raced to victory in the 26th over.
Pace bowler Derek Bell snapped up five for 38 for Village while there were two wickets apiece for Mike Levon and Olwin Clarke.
Mike Young, who struck four fours and two sixes in his 54, shared a second-wicket stand of 77 with opener Kevin Lapsley (25) but Village slipped from a commanding 91 for one to 123 for six before skipper Dion Ball (31 not out) and Randy Jones (13 not out) saw their side home.
Sent in on their home ground, St. David's were bowled out for 100 -- number eight batsman Ojay Minors topscored with 28 -- in the 25th over by Hemisphere Leg Trappers, who then knocked off the runs in the 22nd over to clinch their fifth victory, Chris Fleming making 36 and Jeremy Franklin 21.
Roddy Moore, with three for 11, James Broadbent (two for 11) and David Hosier (two for 25) did the damage for Leg Trappers.
Leon Eve, who topscored with 36, held the West End Warriors innings together at the Royal Naval Field before they were dismissed for 90 by Forties, slow bowler Ron Ayton taking three for 19 and skipper Gordon Campbell and Craig Cannonier two wickets apiece.
Harold Minors made 27 but Forties lost wickets steadily -- leading batsman Ronald Gibbons made up for a first-ball duck by taking three for 35 and skipper skipper Vernon Eve chipped in with two for 25 -- before Cannonier (15 not out) and Andrew Paynter (six not out) settled it.
Team representatives are asked to call in match reports for the next two weeks to Nigel Henderson at the The Royal Gazette sports desk.