Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

Jamaica College (JC) enhanced their chances of qualifying for the finals of the urban Grace Shield Premier League competition by defeating Dunoon Technical by an innings and three runs on the final day of their two-daysemi-final match at JC yesterday.

Resuming on 233 for eight in reply to Dunoon's first innings total of 153 all-out, JC were eventually bowled out for 254, with overnight batsman Travis Reid making 18 and Lushane South hitting 20, to give their team 101-run lead over the visitors. Richard Allen grabbed four for 48 and Hanif Palmer took three for 61 to finish the leading bowlers for Dunoon.

In their second turn at bat, Dunoon fell three runs short of making the hosts bat again, this after they were bowled out for a mere 98 runs. Elvis Watson claimed four for 22 for a match haul of 10 for 57. He received good support from Carlyle Moxam, three for 29, which added to his first innings successes secured a match haul of five for 69.

The homesters' total was built around a brilliant 135 from opener Oliver Watson, backed up by Mardio Grandston (22) and Adrian Morris (18).

Pleased with performance

David Robertson, coach of JC, said he was very pleased with his team's performance.

"We stuck to our game plan and I am happy that it pencilled out like this," said Robertson. "We always hoped that we would be able to make Dunoon bat first and we planned to just bat once. I think Dunoon did well yesterday in restricting us, but we bowled much better today."

He added: "Without being conceited we really do plan to give the engraver some trouble, we want to change the name on the cup and we intend to have our principal's office decorated with some trophies."

Adrian Doctor, coach of Dunoon, said: "I am very disappointed because the job that should have been never got done according to expectations. This JC team had the better of us over the two days."

Doctor added: "As it is there may still be a mathematical chance of advancing. If we can get a result against Kingston College (KC) and as a result of this we just have to play to the end."

JC will next face Kingston College (KC) in their closing match of the three-team semi-finals at JC on March 15-16. Victory will enable JC to advance to the final.

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