St Ann, St Mary battle for 50-over glory

The final of the Jamaica Cricket Association 50-over competition will take place at Chedwin Park today and will see neighbouring rural parishes St Ann and St Mary squaring off for the right to be called all-island One-Day champions.

Manager of the St Mary team Ian Spence is quietly optimistic.

“We are very confident that we can lift the title,” he said. “We have a very balanced team. We have been playing good cricket all season, and we are really looking forward to the challenge. We are looking forward to lifting our first One-Day title.”

St Mary will look to Jamaica Scorpions top-order batsman Alwyn Williams and former national youth standout Andre Creary to get the bulk of the runs. Supporting those two will be Anthony Walters, who is the leading run scorer in the Social Development Commission/Wray and Nephew National Community T20 Cricket Competition, which will have its final tomorrow. Pacer Jermaine Chisholm is the man St Mary is looking to for early wickets. St Mary have bowled well as a unit, not allowing any team to score over 200 against them.

St Ann, who will be aiming for their third title, will be looking to captain Damali Sewell for both runs and wickets. The Jamaica Scorpions off-spinner feels that his team has what it takes to go all the way.

“I am very confident as a ­skipper,” he said. “We have been playing very good cricket. The guys are boosted for this tournament, so I expect nothing but the ­championship tomorrow.”

St Ann, who will start as the slight favourites, have been bowling well. They dismissed teams for less than 100 in three of the five games they played. Kemar Allen, also an offspinner, has been very consistent with the ball. St Ann will also be calling on the services of current national youth players Tian Jarrett and Michael Thompson. The match bowls off at 10 a.m.