Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterTHE SUPREME Ventures Super Cup champion will be decided this weekend with St. Catherine Cricket Club looking the likely winner.
However, the final round, which bowls off today at 10:00 a.m., should be exciting with two other teams in with a chance of lifting the title.
St. Catherine C.C. play away to struggling Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp, while title contenders Manchester, the defending champions and Kingston, clash at Kirkvine Sports Club in Manchester.
The points standings read: St. Catherine (33), Manchester and Kingston (31), Melbourne (24), St. Elizabeth (23), JDF (15), Lucas (14), Westmoreland (12), St. Mary (seven) and Portland (six).
Based on their performance this year, St. Catherine C.C., who dropped first innings points to Kingston, Westmoreland and Melbourne, should start favourites against the inconsistent JDF.
POOR SEASON FOR JDF
The JDF are enjoying one of their worst seasons, sitting in sixth position. But they can rise to occasion and spoil St. Catherine's party.
St. Catherine's bowling attack will be led by off-spinner Bevon Brown, the top bowler in the competition with 43 wickets, seven more than his leg-spinning partner Odean Brown, who is third on the list with 36 wickets.
They will also have the services of Jermaine Lawson, Oniel Richards and Gavin Wallace.
The Saints had their best batting performance of the season last week, scoring 328-2 declared against St. Mary with Danza Hyatt and Dean Morgan scoring centuries.
Additionally, they have Tamar Lambert and Keith Hibbert.
If the JDF are to stop St. Catherine, Wayne Cuff who came out of retirement, Mel Wint who has the third highest run-tally this season, Kamal Dennis, Mark Grey and others will have to lift their game.
At Kirkvine, first innings points or a win for either of the teams - Manchester or Kingston Tigers - could provide them with the title, if St. Catherine lose or drop first innings points to the JDF.
Both teams secured wins last week, Manchester beating Portland by nine wickets, while Kingston beat the JDF by an innings.
Left-arm spinner Andre Dwyer who is second in the wickets' table with 40 victims, Donovan Sinclair who is among the top batsmen with 459 runs, Matthew Sinclair, Stezon Patterson, Orville Pennant who got 96 last week, and Gary Graham are capable of scoring big.
Simon Jackson and Brian Latore who saved Kingston with centuries last week, Roland Holder, Kerry Scott, Jowayne Robinson and Duran White will have things most difficult this weekend.
The other clashes of importance are Melbourne against relegated Portland at Melbourne Oval and St. Elizabeth against Westmoreland who are fighting relegation, at Allan Rae Oval.
St. Mary, who host Lucas at St. Mary Sports Club, look the second team to be relegated. However, if St. Mary win outright and Westmoreland lose they will avoid the drop.
TODAY'S MATCHES
JDF vs St. CatherineMelbourne vs PortlandWestmoreland vs St. ElizabethSt. Mary vs LucasManchester vs Kingston(Home teams named first)
