JCA 50-over final eight take their places

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS, the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) are one of eight teams that will contest this weekend’s Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) all-Island limited overs quarterfinals following final round five fixtures this past weekend.

The army men finished second in Pool Four with 12 points, three points behind group winners Melbourne, who took the top spot following a six-wicket win over the soldiers via the Duckworth Lewis method.

JDF posted 159 in 35 overs with Abhijai Mansingh bagging three wickets after which captain Javelle Glenn hit 52 to guide Melbourne to 142 for 4 in 17 overs.

Law enforcement will also be represented in the final eight as Police secured Pool Four top honours after their defeat of St Catherine CC by 63 runs counted as their fourth on the trot.

Police posted 269 all out in 47.3 overs with Shamarie Lindo top-scoring with 63 against four wickets for Vitel Lawes. The lawmen then restricted the Saints to 206 all out in 42.5 overs despite 58 from national batsman Carlos Brown.

Joining Police in the quarterfinals from Pool Four are St Thomas, who defeated Boys’ Town by 83 runs to seal their place.

In-form West Indies batsman Nkrumah Bonner made 121 to lead St Thomas to 327 all out in 44.4 overs after which Giovanni Grey bagged five wickets for 49 runs in bowling out Boys’ Town for 244 in 38.2 overs.

St Ann and Manchester will be the teams moving on from Pool Two, as the former demolished St Mary by 276 runs to top the standings with 12 points. Manchester finished second with nine points.

Pool One will be represented by leaders St James and St Elizabeth.

St James defeated Westmorland by seven wickets under the Duckworth Lewis method and St Elizabeth crushed Trelawny by 161 runs to book their places.

Westmorland were blown away for just 66 in 19.5 overs after which St James replied with 58 for three in 20 overs.

St Elizabeth put up 244 runs in 41.2 overs with Howard Powell getting 75 and Lennox Simpson 52. The St Bess side then routed Trelawny for 83 in 20.1 overs with Andre McCarthy bagging six wickets for nine runs in four overs.

Saturday’s quarterfinal will see Melbourne hosting Manchester, St Ann squaring off with St Thomas, Police locking horns with St Elizabeth and St James doing battle with the JDF.