MELBOURNE and Kingston registered contrasting wins in Group D of the Sandals All Island limited overs cricket competition in the Corporate Area to set up a big showdown for group and semi-final honours next week.Rothmans All Island champions Melbourne thrashed St. Thomas by eight wickets at Derrymore Road but Kingston survived a brave fight by St. Catherine Parish to beat the visitors by 17 runs at Sabina Park.
At Sabina Park: Kingston won the toss and elected to take first strike and posted a challenging 223 off 49 overs to which their opponents threatened to overhaul but fell short.
The hosts lost their first wicket with the score on 11 when Simon Jackson was clean bowled by pacer Brentonn Beckford for four. It became 44-2 when Jackson's opening partner, Gregory Buchanan, was trapped leg before by Dean Courtwright for 20.
Shane Brooks was easily run out by wicketkeeper Greg Gordon for three but good batting by veteran Terrence Corke (54 which included four fours and a six), captain Lloyd Black (38), Marvin McKain (35) and Nicholas Austin (23) helped Kingston to a respectable score.
When St. Catherine batted they found the going tough but good innings by Xavier Charvis (42), Colin Buchanan (43) and an attacking last-ditch effort by Beckford of 35 not out which included two sixes and two fours helped the parish team to their score. McKain, who was handy with the bat, also did well with the ball grabbing 4-49 off his ten overs.
At Melbourne Oval: Melbourne easily beat St. Thomas by eight wickets.
Scores: St. Thomas, after being allowed to face only 45 overs due to their late arrival, scored 179-8. Melbourne then scored 181-2 with opener Donovan Pagon top scoring with 61.
At Chedwin Park:St. Catherine Cricket Club thrashed Clarendon by 106 runs.
Scores:St. Catherine CC 275-6 off 50 overs (Tamar Lambert 58, Milton Thomas 57 and Barrington Bartley 54 not out), Clarendon in reply could only muster 169 as offspinner Bevon Brown with three wickets and pacer Jermaine Lawson with two did the damage.
