- RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Carlton Baugh Jr. on the go for Melbourne in their Capital and Credit Limited Overs quarter-final match against Kingston at Melbourne Oval yesterday. Baugh top-scored with 43 for Melbourne. The wicketkeeper is Omar Hamilton.
Daraine Luton, Freelance Writer
LAST YEAR'S beaten finalists, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), along with red-hot Manchester, Melbourne and St. Thomas will be the teams in next weekend's semi-finals of the Capital and Credit Limited Overs cricket competition.
The four booked their spots after wins in yesterday's quarter-finals.
JDF, who topped Group A at the end of the preliminary stages of the competition, beat St. Ann by 147 runs at Up Park Camp; Manchester crushed Kensington by 153 runs at Kirkvine; Melbourne trounced Kingston by 62 runs at Melbourne Oval, while St. Thomas maintained their giant-killing form, beating Lucas by eight runs at Nelson Oval.
SEMI-FINAL CLASHES
Yesterday's results mean that the JDF and Manchester will clash in one semi-final while St. Thomas and Melbourne will contest the other. Of interest, the JDF and Manchester met in the final of the Supreme Ventures Super Cup two-day competition.
Two centuries were scored at Up Park Camp in a game which turned out to be a one-sided affair.
The JDF were awarded the toss after St. Ann arrived late and the Soldiers chose to bat and blasted 330-8 in 50 overs. Wayne Cuff led from the front with a knock of 107 which came off 129 deliveries and included five fours and one six. Also coming up big with the bat was Mark Gray who made an 87-ball 90. Gray's knock included four fours and five sixes.
When St. Ann replied, Marlon Johnson batted through the innings for an unbeaten 110 (9x4, 1x6) which came off 145 balls. The only batsman to offer him much support was Canute Ferguson who made 22. Cuff claimed 3-41 bowling his off-spin.
At Melbourne, the home side batted first and posted a challenging 248 all out on 49.4 overs. West Indies wicket-keeper/batsman Carlton Baugh Jnr. (43), Andre McCarthy (31) and Marlon Samuels (30) led with the bat against Audley Sanson who claimed 3-44 and Shane Brooks, 3-40.
OPENING SHOW
In reply, Kingston got a decent start from their openers (Nicholas Austin, 36, and Duran White, 26) who put on 57 for the first wicket but they failed to get going thereafter. In fact, were it not for a masterful innings of 54 not out from Nehemiah Perry, who came in with the score at 105 for four, Kingston might not have reached the 186-8 which they made off their allotted 50 overs.
At Kirkvine, Manchester recovered from a precarious three for one to score 212 all out in 48.5 overs. In the very first over of the day, West Indies paceman Daren Powell claimed three wickets in four balls, accounting for Gary Graham, Sheldon Powell and Matthew Sinclair (all for ducks) to give Kensington a dream start.
However, Orville Pennant (76) and Donavan Sinclair (27) added 118 for the fourth wicket to repair the breach. Later, Andre' Dwyer (22) and Stephan Patterson (35) put together 41 at the bottom of the innings. Powell ended with 5-26.
Kensington's run chase was weak as they were dismissed for a paltry 59 in 25.4 overs as only Andy Carter with 18 offered any form of resistance. West Indian batsman Wavell Hinds made three.
Dwyer claimed 3-9 bowling for Manchester while David Powell (2-7), Patterson (2-20) and Dennis Hutchinson (2-15) supported him well.
At Nelson Oval, St. Thomas batted first and made 229-8 with Steve Logan top scoring with 55 not out and Christie Jones getting 34. This was done against the bowling of Ashuman Kentish (2-41) and Wayne James (2-17).
Lucas fell eight short when they chased as they were left stranded at 221-8 when their overs dried up. Kevin Hinds made 58 not out for Lucas while Gary Herbine made 34. Clinton Bent claimed 2-28 for St. Thomas.
