By Paul-Andre Walker, Staff ReporterWEST INDIES batsman Marlon Samuels slammed Melbourne into the semi-finals of the Supreme Ventures Super Cup with a magnificent unbeaten knock of 300 during his team's top of the table clash against St Catherine at Chedwin Park yesterday.
St Catherine batting first posted a losing first innings total of 203 all out. Danza Hyatt (65) and Dean Morgan (61) were the highest scorers, with Melbourne's Nikita Miller getting five for 36. Llewellyn Meggs and Shakuri Wilson chipped in with two wickets each.
Samuels then slammed 27 fours and eight sixes from 327 balls in 418 minutes to produce a remarkable innings that was amply supported by Meggs with 73 and Donovan Pagon with 56. Samuels' 300 not out ensured that Melbourne (29) would take home three valuable points and almost ensure that they remain at the top of the points standings going into the semi-final.
Phillip Wright (two for 51), Bevon Brown (two for 141), Tamar Lambert (two for 116), Odean Brown (one for 107) and Damion Morgan (one for 101) represented St Catherine's dismal bowling figures. They ended the game on 47 for three with Danza Hyatt not out on 30. Melbourne's Leon Bent had figures of three for 23 at stumps. St. Catherine are presently in third place with 24 points.
St Catherine's first innings loss led to them being ejected from second place because third-placed JDF had the only outright win of the day to end round eight on 26 points.
JDF's victory was also special because they had to come up with a fabulous bowling performance to do it. Westmoreland's first innings ended at 233 all out. They then returned to bowl out the JDF for 191 and looked secure to take all three first innings points.
Then the veteran Wayne Cuff turned up with a sparkling bowling performance of five for 15 to reduce Westmoreland to 89 all out, giving the soldiers 132 for victory. JDF proceeded to put on a better second innings performance of 133 for three with Damion Gray getting an unbeaten 65 and Mel Wint chipping in with a useful 44.
In another game, West Indies opener Wavell Hinds aided Kengsington in securing valuable first innings points against Lucas with a spectacular 177 that was only marred by a dubious stumping decision.
While the match ended in a draw, the first innings victory does mean that Kengsington (17) are in striking distance of fourth place Manchester (20) going into the final round of games.
"Cricket is a glorious game of uncertainties but I think as the most senior batsman in the team the onus was on me to play a special innings. To play against a formidable Lucas bowling attack at this stage in the competition with teams looking to secure semi-final spots I thought that an innings like this would have meant a lot to my team and with God's help it came off," Hinds told The Gleaner.
The melee of teams fighting for the final two spots available in the semi-finals was dispersed a little with Manchester grabbing first innings points against strugglers St. Elizabeth to move to 20 points. Dave Legister had a good batting round getting 72 and 48 in his two innings.
