Senior Cup semis day
JDF oppose Kingston, derby clash in St Catherine
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and last year’s beaten finalists Kingston will this weekend square off in one of two semi-finals of the two-day Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup at Up Park Camp.
The second semi-final will be between a St Catherine derby, St Catherine Cricket Club will square off against the St Catherine parish team at Chedwin Park.
The JDF got the better of Kingston at Sabina Park in last season’s final and will enter the contest slight favourites, having so far notched up an unbeaten record.
Another feather in their cap will be the fact that they stopped the previously unbeaten St Thomas CA on first innings in quarter-final action at Up Park Camp last week.
“We have our title to defend,” said JDF batsman and national trials invitee, Rasheed Outar. “We defeated them in the final last year, and know they will be coming at us for revenge. But we are prepared and ready for the challenge, although we are struggling with a few injuries.”
OTHER BOWLERS TO PLAY
The army men will be without West Indies fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell, who is on regional duties, but will look to other top players, the tournament’s leading scorer Joseph Palmer, national spinner Dennis Bulli, Outar and pacer Reynard Leveridge, to pull them through.
Kingston, who defeated Manchester CA outright at home in their quarter-final showing, will be led by young captain Brandon King.
He is expected to get support in the batting department from Garth Garvey, with their bowling to be led by the left-arm spin twin pair of Paul Harrison and Patrick Harty Jr, as well as pacer Fabian Forbes.
“It should be an interesting clash,” noted Kingston manager Nehemiah Perry.
“They got the better of us last year, and this time around we are hoping to turn the tables.
The St Catherine CC versus St Catherine CA clash will see several West Indies and Jamaica senior and junior players on display.
All-rounder André Russell, Tamar Lambert, Shacaya Thomas and Odean Brown will lead the way for St Catherine CC, with Nkrumah Bonner, the in-form Kemar Marshall and Coi Thompson doing likewise for St Catherine CA.