All eyes will be on St. Elizabeth when they host Portland in today's opening round of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) all-island limited overs cricket competition at Alpart.

In the game set to start at 9:30 a.m., St. Elizabeth, who won the island's premier competition - the Super Cup - are expected to start on a winning note, not because they are playing Portland from the lower league, but because they have been playing good cricket lately. However, one-day cricket is totally different from the two-day version of the game and the Richard Walters-conditioned men should be fully aware of this situation.

Top batsman from the league, Shawn Findlay, along with Howard Powell, Shane Powell, Davian Davidson and Damion Ebanks, should lead their batting.

Bowling

The bowling department will be once again be spearheaded by off-spinner Wayne Simpson, who should get support from Conroy Miller, Ainsley Goss, Howard Powell and Findlay.

Portland finished in the top half of the lower league, but if they are to prove a point against the big guys, Lerone Tyrell and ChristopherHall will have to score heavily and Carl Brissett and Darren Grey will also have to bowl consistent line and length.

Meanwhile, Clarendon, who were scheduled to face Kingston at Sabina Park, have been suspended from the competition.

According to a JCA release, "over the 2007 (season) Clarendon has been cited for seven breaches of the competition's guidelines, including their not honouring fixtures at Hanover on June 9 and St. Thomas on July 14. Additionally, Clarendon forfeited the match versus Portland on June 2, having arrived after lunch for that game," the release continued.

Today's matches

Group A

Melbourne vs St. Catherine CA at Melbourne

JDF vs Hanover at Camp

Group B

Kensington vs Manchester at Kensington Park

Police vs Boys' Town at Elletson Rd.

St. Mary vs Kgn. & St. Andrew at Gray's Inn

Group C

St. Catherine vs Trelawny at Chedwin Park

St. Thomas vs Westmoreland at Goodyear

Group D

St. Elizabeth vs Portland at Alpart