Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
MANCHESTER MAINTAINED their two-point lead atop the Supreme Ventures Super Cup cricket championships after a recording a comprehensive 154-run win over St. Elizabeth at the end of their two-day Round Seven game at Alpart yesterday.
Needing to score 265 for victory in their second innings, St. Elizabeth, which remained on 15 points, were dismissed for a meagre 109 with Andre Dwyer taking four for 16 for a match haul of nine for 43.
Earlier Manchester, which moved to 25 points, batted first and posted 219 to which St. Elizabeth replied with 131. Batting a second time, Manchester declared at 177-3 with Matthew Sinclair scoring 52, Gary Graham 41 and Orville Pennant 35 leading the way with the bat.
St. Elizabeth, in their second turn at bat, crumbled under the spin of Dwyer and Donovan Sinclair (three for 25), falling some 154 runs short.
Melbourne, however, made sure they kept pace with the leaders by scoring a five wicket win over St. Catherine C.C. at Melbourne Oval to move to 23 points.
SAMUELS SHINES
The victory was set up by a commendable all-round performance by sidelined West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels, who finished with a match haul of 10 for 84 (8-38 and 2-46) and top scored in the second innings with 27 (to go along with his 54 in the first innings).
St. Catherine CC, on 11 points, batted first and posted 104 to which Melbourne replied with 220. In their second turn at bat, the 'Saints' got up to 200 with the Morgans (Wayne, 33, Dean, 32, and David, 29) making most runs against Damion Jacobs 4 for 43. Set a victory target of 85, Melbourne made heavy weather, losing their first five wickets for 38 runs.
Samuels and Ray Stewart (23 not out), however, erased whatever hopes St. Catherine had about saving the game, taking Melbourne home in 21 overs. Samuels who batted at number seven ended the game in style, dispatching David Morgan for two boundaries on the on-side and then a straight hit into Derrymore Road.
Meanwhile, At Port Esquivel, Kingston also ensured that they stay in the top bunch at 23 points also with a comprehensive eight-wicket win over St. Catherine Parish, bottom of the standings on six points.
Scores: Kingston 172 (Nicholas Austin 37, Shane Brooks 19 and Audley Sanson 24 against Collin Buchanan 7-51) and 57 for two. St. Catherine 129 and 99 (Lloyd Rattary 26, Shane Beckford and Rajri Chatrie 12 were the only batsmen to reach double figures against the bowing of Kerry Scott 5-42 and Nehemiah Perry 4-17).
The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) were also in a winning mode when they travelled to St. Mary Sports Club, to face St. Mary.
ST MARY CRUMBLED
Batting first the soldiers, who moved to 23 points, posted a modest 152 and then dismissed St. Mary for 98. Batting a second time the JDF got up to 141, setting St. Mary a victory target of 197.
However, Wayne Cuff (second innings figures of 5/40 for a match haul of 11 for 71) was too much for the civilians as St. Mary crumbled for 117. The result means that St. Mary remain in mid-table on 13 points.
At Kensington Oval, Lucas secured first innings points from neighbours Kensington in the Rollington Town derby.
Lucas batted first and posted 217, to which Kensington replied with 185.
Batting a second time Lucas declared at 87-5, setting Kensington a victory target of 140.
Kensington went at the runs but ran out of time at the end as when stumps were drawn, they were 134-9, some six runs short.
Despite that failure they earned a point for their effort, inching up to 10 points but remained second from the bottom in the standings.
