Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer
MANDEVILLE:
ST. CATHERINE Cricket Club are the new champions of the Supreme Ventures Super Cup cricket championship, which was played under a new format straight league - this season.
Defending champions Man-chester were dethroned while having to settle for second position after rain helped produced a no-result in their contest at Kirkvine yesterday.
With Kingston already assured of a semi-final spot in the Challenge Cup entering the final round of league matches, Melbourne grabbed the fourth place with a seven-wicket win over Portland.
Melbourne's win made meaningless the challenge of St. Elizabeth for that spot after Westmoreland got first innings honours at the Allan Rae Oval.
St. Catherine, who made a significant breakthrough to their title run when they defeated Manchester outright in the second round at Kirkvine, had entered the final round with a three-point lead over Kingston and Manchester who were locked on 31 points each.
The Saints galvanised their advantage with a crucial first innings victory over the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), by scoring a mammoth 529.
Dean Morgan struck 120, Wayne Morgan 93 while there were other half centuries for Captain Tamar Lambert (63), Danza Hyatt (53) and West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson (54).
The JDF ensured a draw after scoring 79 for two in their second innings, when the game was called off.
AT KIRKVINE: Manchester and Kingston had to settle for a point each after rain on the first day and Manchester's cautious approach prevented first innings honours being decided.
Resuming on 117 for two, the dethroned champions reached 232 for eight at lunch but batted further to close on 306 off 90 overs.
Andre Dwyer, mainly known as a bowler, finished with 49 not out. Simon Jackson then scored 39 and fast bowler Jowayne Robinson scored a quickfire, 44 including four 4s and three 6s, as Kingston finished on 109 for two off 24 overs before both captains decided to call it a day.
AT MELBOURNE: Nikita Miller took five for 44 and Andre McCarthy three for 23 as Portland made 177, 67 runs more than their first innings tally.
Melbourne declared on 250 for seven and then rushed to 40 for three to complete the only outright result of the round.
AT ALLAN RAE OVAL: Westmoreland made 261 and then restricted St. Elizabeth to 213.
