Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Melbourne's batsman Andre McCarthy acknowledges his record century against Kingston & St. Andrew in their Capital & Credit All-Island limited-overs match at Melbourne Oval yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
FORMER WEST Indies Youth player, Andre McCarthy, was in record-breaking form yesterday for Melbourne against Kingston and St. Andrew in the All-Island Capital & Credit limited-overs competition at Melbourne Oval.
McCarthy, who walked in at No. 4, scored 225 not out, the first double century in the competition to lead Melbourne to a 126-run win over Kingston & St. Andrew on the Duckworth/Lewis system.
Melbourne also qualified for the semi-finals with the win.
The right-handed batsman went to the crease with Melbourne 38-2 and shared in an important 175-run sixth-wicket stand with Nikita Miller, who contributed 37.
The two carried Melbourne to 351-5 off their 50 overs.
First century
McCarthy, who belted the ball with no fear, brought up his first century off just 98 deliveries. At that stage he had struck eight fours and five sixes.
On reaching the magic figure, McCarthy, who recently helped Holmwood to three straight Headley Cup titles, reached the 200 mark off 135 balls after belting 21 fours and 13 sixes.
During that time he was dropped twice, but in the end - two and a half hours later, his 225 of 148 balls was laced with 21 fours and 15 sixes.
McCarthy was elated in the end.
"I am feeling really good," McCarhty said. "I feel very good to know that I am the first one in the competition to score a double hundred.
McCarthy said he started off slow but gradually stepped up the pace as his innings progressed.
"At first I just tried to get used to the bounce and pace of the wicket and batted to occupy some time," he said.
Confident
"I am confident in my ability and knew that once I got a good start, I could score a bit faster," he said.
He said, despite the fact that he scored so freely, it wasn't easy.
"I hit a lot of sixes, but I had to work for the runs. This is one of my best innings, behind the hundred that I scored in the Headley Cup semis against Vere."
When Kingston & St. Andrew replied, they reached 105-5 off 20 overs when the rain came. Marlon Blacks got 45 while Sheldon Smith claimed 3-29.
At Chedwin Park: St. Catherine booked their place in the semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Portland.
Portland 222 all out off 48.4 overs (Emilo Reid, 85, Lerone Tyrell, 53 not out; Bevon Brown, 2-52, Garth Garvey, 2-52, Wayne Morgan, 2-58). St. Catherine 226-5 off 47.3 (Keith Hibbert, 65, Wayne Morgan, 63 not out; Omar Clarke, 2-51).
At Jamalco: Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) defeated Clarendon by 120 runs under the Duckworth/ Lewis system.
JDF 299-6 off 47 overs (reduced) - (Wayne Cuff, 96, Avroy Harris, 60; Tavare Green, 3-65, Hamlet Stewart, 2-59).
Clarendon needed 226 from 29 overs, but only reached 106-6. Albert Gopie hit 25 not out against Cuff 4-25.
At Sabina Park: Kingston beat Boys' Town by 10 wickets.
Boys' Town 70 (Fabina Forbes, 7-21). Kingston 71-0 (Domaine Wilson, 32, Jowayne Robinson, 21).
At Alpart: In a match reduced to a 20/20 affair, St. Elizabeth defeated Manchester by 39 runs.
St. Elizabeth 143 (Shane Powell, 61; David Powell, 2-11, Andre Dwyer, 2-4, Jamie Merchant, 2-31). Manchester 104 off 16.3 (Powell, 22; Conroy Miller, 3-31, Chris Dwyer, 2-3, Wayne Simpson, 2-5).
At Nelson Oval: Hanover beat Lucas by one run.
Hanover 152 all out 41.2 (Kadian McKenzie, 54; Aushuman Kentish, 3-26, Gary Herbine, 3-35). Lucas 151 off 35 overs (Tarick Cousins, 37; Kenneth Beckford, 4-52).
At Kaiser: There was no play in the match between St. Ann and Trelawny.
