Rural teams book tickets to ISSA Super 8 semis

IT WILL be an all-rural affair in this year’s staging of the ISSA/TVJ Super 8 T20 competition following the final set of matches across two venues yesterday.

Over at the Sir P Oval in Clarendon, Zone A leaders Manchester High first punched their ticket into the final four after securing an easy eight-wicket win over Clarendon College, who, despite losing the encounter, also secured a semi-final berth after finishing the zone in second place.

Clarendon were asked to take first strike and could only manage 56 for nine in the allotted 18 overs per side, with number-nine Shakir Walters, the only batsman to get to double figures with 16 not out, against four wickets for eight runs from national Under-15 captain Demario Hall. Kelon Hall supported with three for seven.

In reply, Manchester eased to 60 for two in 5.5 overs, with opener Matthew Morgan firing a quickfire 26 and Hall scoring an unbeaten 15.

Manchester’s coach Barry Barnes summed up a workmanlike performance from his charges who are on course to secure a hat-trick of schoolboy cricket titles.

“I told my boys not to take the Clarendon team lightly and we came out and played hard cricket, and hats off to their performance today.”

Kingston College (KC), who defeated St Catherine High by 13 runs in their Zone A match at Chedwin Park yesterday, tied with Clarendon on points but lost out in a head-to-head tie-breaker. Clarendon had gotten the better of KC in their opening-round clash.

KC fought bravely in their push for a semi-final berth.

Batting first, the North Street side made 109 for five in their 20 overs with Kev Andre Virgo making 46, against two wickets for Jaheim Frater.

Virgo then returned to bag five for nine, restricting St Catherine to 96 all-out.

Over in Zone B, leaders St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) secured their semi-final place after a five-wicket win over Excelsior High School.

Excelsior could only manage 99 all out in 19 overs, with Jamare Dailey top scoring with 29 against six for five from West Indies youth pacer DeShawn James.

STETHS then got to 101 for five in 19 overs, with Odane Binns leading the way with an unbeaten 43 from 49 balls with five fours and one six.

STETHS coach Karl Wright was elated that his charges were able to pull off the victory and seal their final-four place.

“I must say congratulations to my boys. They came out and put on a good showing in what was a low-scoring game.”

In the meantime, Tacky High out of St Mary will also play in the final four after they finished second in Group B following a huge 135-run win over St George’s College. Tacky first put up 177 for three in 20 overs before restricting St. Georges to a mere 42.