Melbourne have one hand on trophy

Fitzroy Prendergast, Staff Reporter

THE Rothmans All Island Cricket Championship trophy seems destined to go to Derrymore Road as, after two days of cricket, Melbourne are well placed to register an outright win over defending champions Lucas at the Nelson Oval.

Scores: Melbourne 318 all out (Donovan Pagon 115, Aubrey Wollaston 72; Delroy Morgan 5-52, Oneil Cruickshank 2-63), Lucas 100 all out (Cruickshank 17, Morgan 16; Marlon Samuels 5-29), Colin Stuart 2-36, Ray Stewart 2-14) and 109-3 (Kevin Riley 46, Ryan Wellington 25).

Melbourne resumed at 290-7 yesterday but folded for the addition of just 28 runs as Kevin Baugh was bowled by Morgan for 12 at 306-8, Winston Reid was trapped leg before by Morgan for four and Llewelyn Meggs was also out leg before to Xavier Gilbert for 26.

Lucas, in reply, struggled all the way and were bundled out for 100, mainly due to the off-spin bowling of Marlon Samuels.

Extras top scored in Lucas' innings with 23 as only Cruickshank (17), Morgan (16), Ryan Wellington (14) and Kevin Riley (13) reached double figures.

After conceding first innings points to Melbourne, Lucas, needing to make 219 to make Melbourne bat again, fared a little better but were still in danger of losing outright.

Lucas' leading batsman Kevin Riley sliced a Marlon Samuels' delivery to Stewart at backward point when he had made 46. Wellington was caught behind by wicketkeeper Andre Coley for 25 and Smith was trapped leg before by Stewart for 17. Captain Coley (12) and nightwatchman Norval Britton (0) were together at the close knowing full well that Championship honours have all but eluded them.

"Although there is one day to go and still a lot of cricket to play, we are very confident we have done enough to make sure of victory as we have already gained first innings points," said Melbourne's captain Robert Samuels.

"We expected a bigger challenge from Lucas but we always felt we had the edge in this final.

"Our club is used to winning at the local level and therefore we are used to playing at crucial times and doing well.

"Lucas, on the other hand, had not won a local cricket title in 27 years prior to last year's win," the former West Indies batsman said.

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