Morris century gives Kingston Senior Cup edge

A PROFICIENT century from wicketkeeper-batsman Romaine Morris has given Kingston Cricket Club the edge over St Catherine Cricket Club on the opening day of their two-day Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup final at Sabina Park.

The Kingston ‘Tigers’ will resume today’s second and final day on 290 for seven, with that total coming about thanks largely to a workmanlike 147 from the left-handed national player, who batted just shy of six hours after opening the innings.

Morris would not get all the plaudits for the day, as left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal has bagged five wickets for 89 runs to keep the Saints in the game.

After being asked to take the first strike, Morris and his opening partner Jevaughn Buchanan started spritely for Kingston, with the pair putting on 73 in just under 20 overs to set things up for the home side.

Buchanan had hit eight fours in getting to 40. However, he became Royal’s first victim when he was caught by Rammal Lewis.

St Catherine didn’t have to wait too much longer for their second scalp, as the Royal-Lewis combination accounted for the wicket of Nicholas Nelson for just two a mere 12 runs later.

That would be the only respite for some time for the Saints, as Morris found another useful partner in Lionel Morant and they added 102 runs for the third wicket before Morant (38) fell to Oraine Williams’ medium pace at 187 for three in the 54th over.

BETTER AFTERNOON FOR ROYAL

With the fall of Morant’s wicket, Kingston drew into their shells somewhat and that allowed Royal to be even more attacking, which eventually bore more fruit in the afternoon.

Royal trapped Derval Green for just nine but had to wait until 51 runs were added for his fourth wicket, when he had Mickayle Riley stumped for 27.

Royal would eventually get Joel Ewan for six to claim his fifth wicket but, before that, Morris had soldiered on and carried his bat to 147, which included 17 fours and two sixes from 249 balls.

In an attempt to get to 150, he went caught off Salmon with the score on 274 for six with some seven overs to go in the day’s play.

Paul Harrison, with 14 not out, and captain Akim Fraser, with an unbeaten two, will resume today, as Fraser commended Morris for giving his team what is already a workable total for his bowling unit.

“A solid start from our guys which has put us in a solid position. A brilliant fourth century of the season for Morris has set us up well, as we will be looking to push on tomorrow (today) and set our stalls on something, because we are going to have to bowl them out and that is the thinking,” said Fraser.

Saints captain Pete Salmon believes the game is still in the balance.

“Today we didn’t get what we were looking for from our pacers, but Romain stood tall for Kingston with the bat. The wicket looks a good one for batting, so it goes to show that our batters just have to occupy and capitalise on the bad balls whenever we get them.”