Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
ST. CATHERINE made light work of Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) yesterday to clinch the Capital & Credit one-day crown at Sabina Park by six wickets.
The scores in the one-sided final were: JDF 119 off 41.5 overs; St. Catherine 120 for four in 38.5.
Although he was expecting a tougher challenge in the final, St. Catherine's captain, Renford Pinnock Jnr., said the win could be put down to his team's hard work.
"We were expecting a better fight from JDF, but it did not turn out that way," Pinnock said.
"Forty (40) overs of good spin bowling is very hard to negotiate and the Soldiers weren't up to the task. We have being using it (spin bowling) all season, nobody (team) has made 160 runs against St. Catherine's bowling attack," he said.
Electing to bat, JDF got off to a bad start losing Wayne Cuff in the first over. Cuff, a former national player, edged pacer Damion Morgan to Tony Powell at second slip and went without a run on the board.
Anthony Folkes, 19, who opened with Cuff was joined by Mark Gray, 14, and the two put together 30 for the second wicket, the biggest stand of the innings, but as soon as Odean Brown intervened, wickets fell with great regularity.
Gavin Wallace spun a web around JDF's middle order, taking 4-35 to earn himself the man-of-the-final mantle. In his 10-over spell, Wallace removed Mel Wint leg before for 29, bowled Damion Gray for five, and dismissed Marlon Kennedy for 12, he then had Andel Daley caught at second slip by Tamar Lambert for two.
Omar Ellington, 13, was the only other batsman to reach double figures.
Damion Gray, who opened the bowling with Tamar Lambert, took 2-18. Odean Brown 1-10 and Bevon Brown 1-28 were also among the wickets.
In their reply, St. Catherine also started poorly losing Keith Hibbert, two, to spinner Omar Ellington. The JDF then continued to plug away for wickets with pacer Kamal Dennis and Ellington putting Pinnock and the in-form Danza Hyatt under pressure.
When the players went to lunch, St. Catherine were 19 for one off 11 overs. However, upon resumption, Pinnock looked to push the scoring and provided Howard Copeland with an easy catch at long-on. He made 12.
Although Lambert, who made 16, went at 49 for three, Hyatt, who was put down on eight by Copeland, did not panic. Lambert's dismissal brought to the crease Tony Powell, who also brought some life to the game and it was then that Hyatt awoke.
Despite only hitting two fours each, the two picked up ones and twos all around the ground and added 63 for the fourth wicket. However, just eight runs from victory, Hyatt was trapped leg before for 35.
Powell was left not out on 30. Ellington claimed 3-24 and Cuff 1-20.
Pinnock said the team wanted to win the title for its manager, Milton Henry, and he personally for his father, Renford Pinnock Snr, who played for Jamaica.
Meanwhile, JDF's captain, Major Paul Brown, said it was always going to be difficult defending such a small total on a flat pitch.
"We fought well nevertheless. We bowled close to 40 overs, but we just fell short in the batting," Brown said.
"I thought the St. Catherine bowlers bowled well, but a little more application was needed on our part. A little bit below our standard today, but I think the guys were possibly a bit jaded coming off a two-week break with no cricket at all," he said.
