Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Lucas' Chris Gayle (left) and wicketkeeper Junior McKenzie make an unsuccessful appeal against St. Catherine's bastman Shane Beckford during Capital and Credit Limited overs Cricket action at Nelson Oval in a recent match that Lucas won by three wickets. Both teams will be pressing for victories when the competition resumes today.Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
TWO-DAY champion Manchester will book their place in the Super Eight of the Capital and Credit Limited Overs cricket competition today with a win over Portland, when the teams meet at Folly Oval.
The Matthew Sinclair-led team has been enjoying a superb run all season.
They conceded first innings points only once in the just concluded Supreme Ventures Super Cup two-day competition, which they won and in the Capital and Credit one dayers, they have had things very much their own way in the three games they have played.
Manchester have registered victories over St. Elizabeth, Boys' Town and St. Thomas and with Portland (four points) finding it difficult to spark in two games so far, it seems likely that the spin twins in Andre Dwyer and Donovan Sinclair, along with pacer Stephan Patterson, could be in for a field day with the ball.
Patterson claimed three wickets and scored an even half-century in Manchester's big win over St. Thomas last weekend. However, with he being a number-10 batsman, Manchester will be looking to Matthew Sinclair, Orville Pennant and Gary Graham to put runs onto the board.
Portland's bright spark
Meanwhile, Damion Gray has been Portland's only bright spark in the competition and should be their guiding light when they take on this mountainous task today.
Gray enters the game with on a high, having scored 79 runs and claiming four wickets for 14 runs in his team's 102-run win over Boys' Town last weekend.
With maximum 12 points from three games, Manchester lead group C ahead of defending champions St. Catherine C.C. and St. Thomas, who both have eight points from three games.
While Manchester are within striking distance of a spot in the Super Eight round, St. Thomas and St. Catherine will have to battle to the bitter end for the second qualification spot out of the group.
Like Manchester, both face relatively easy opposition this weekend. St. Thomas are set to battle bottom place team, St. Elizabeth at Goodyear Oval, while St. Catherine C.C. host Boys' Town at Chedwin Park. Neither of these two teams has registered a point.
Meanwhile, Melbourne, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), Kingston, Lucas, Police and St. Mary will all be aiming to remain in the run for a place in the Super Eight.
perfect record
Melbourne, one of the three teams with a perfect record, lead group D with eight points, the same as St. Mary, who have played one more game. Today, Melbourne take on the winless Kingston and St. Andrew at Melbourne Oval in a game, which seems set to be a one sided affair.
St. Mary, the other team in contention for a Super Eight spot, are at home to St. Ann (four points from two games) at Content Gardens. A win over St. Ann would push them to 12 points, a result that will assure their qualification.
In group A, the JDF, with maximum eight points from two games, are home to cellar side, Trelawny.
Kingston, who have played three games for their eight points, should keep themselves in the runnings with a win over Clarendon (four points) at Nelson Oval.
All games begin at 9:30 a.m.
