By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterOCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
HALF CENTURIES from Richard Hoillett and Renford Pinnock Jnr. carried last year's beaten finalists, Jamaica Grande, to an easy 68-run victory over Couples in their John Issa/SuperClubs, Super-Inclusive Resorts sponsored St. Ann/St. Mary Hotels semi-final at Content Gardens Oval yesterday.
Scores: Jamaica Grande 260 for eight in 38 overs; Couples 192 all out in 37 overs.
Set 261 to win, Couples opened with Donovan Bartley (eight) and Barrington Christie (22) who put on 38 for the first wicket. However, Couples slipped to 76 for five with Bartley, Christie, discarded Jamaica player Warren Medwynter (24), Oneil Weir (two) and Omar Ellington back in the pavilion.
Peter Pottinger (32) and Mark Pettigrew (36) featured in an important 49-run sixth-wicket partnership to provide some resistance in the middle, but when they were dismissed at 125 for seven and 144 for eight, Jamaica Grande were on course for their second straight final.
Bowling for Jamaica Grande, Ralston Rose took 3-34 off his allotted eight overs, Jamaica medium pacer Laurie 2-16 from six and Kieth McCrae 2-46 off six overs.
There was also a wicket each for David Bernard Jnr., Hoillett and Pinnock Jnr.
Earlier, Jamaica Grande sent in to take first strike, were struggling on 16 for four with Dean Richards (zero), Christopher Wilmot (three), Danza Hyatt (four) and Bernard Jnr. (zero) all out cheaply.
However, Hoillett (69) and Pinnock Jnr. (58) save their team from total embarrassment with an 137-run fifth wicket stand. The two batted with a lot of determination and confidence in their innings, which turned out to be the life saver for the former champions.
Williams, 35 not out, McCrae, 25, Howard Harris, 22, and Rose, 14, were all among the runs for Jamaica Grande. Pacer Medwynter, with 2-31, Jason Goldson, 2-65, and Omar Ellington, 2-44, were the best bowlers used by Couples.
