Keith Hibbert

Two centuries highlighted the start of the St Catherine Jamaica Energy Partners Cricket League last Sunday as Ryan Francis and Andrew Russell scored 134 and 105, respectively, for Belmont CC and newcomers Church Pen CC.

All sixteen teams were in action in the opening round of games.

The highlight of the day, however, was the dramatic upset in the match played between newcomers Church Pen and the high-riding former champions, Ewarton Cricket Club.

Church Pen won the toss and elected to bat at Port Esquivel Sports Club,. They scored a brisk 280 with Russell scoring 105 not out. He got good support from former Jamaican batsman Keith Hibbert who made 88. Bowling for Ewarton, Roy Williams took 4 for 60. Ewarton were then bundled out for 85, with Aaron Daily Jr top-scoring with 30; Church Pen's Andrew Davis took 2 for 23.

Other winners last Sunday were Belmont Cricket Club, who defeated Old Harbour Bay by 224 runs at the JPS Oval. Francis top scored for Belmont with 134, Patrick Gayle and Andrew Wheatly then combined with 5 for seven and 5 for 12, respectively, to dismiss Old Harbour Bay for a paltry 34.

Taxi Association went down by 21 runs to Naseberry Grove Police Youth Club (formerly Kitson Town). Naseberry Grove Police Youth Club batted first and made 129, with Damian Wright making 62 against Terence Brown's 7 for 11. The Taxi men were then bowled out for 108.

De la Vega City CC easily got the better of Unique Cricket Club. De la Vega made 298 batting first, with Adeen Haughton getting 90 while Lawrence Smalling supported with 89. Unique at their turn replied with 88. Wayne Morgan took 5 for 30 and Ricardo Ellis 4 for 20.

Other results: Lakes Pen got the better of Wakefield in their encounter. Scores Lakes Pen 217 (Camlee Rickets 75): Wakefield 189.

Basement beat Central Village by 102 runs. Basement 211 (Dr Carl Bartley 45; Kemar Rose 5 for 67); Central Village 109.

Today's matches

Zone One

Correctional Services Sports Club vs Basement Sports Club at Prison Oval, Spanish Town;

Belmont Sports Club vs Lakes Pen CC at Dela Vega City Community Centre;

Central Village CC vs Old Harbour Bay CC at Lime Tree Oval

Travellers CC vs Wakefield CC at Cheesefield.

Zone Two

Unique CC vs Old Harbour CC at Alcan, Ewarton;

Church Pen CC vs Dela Vega City CC at John Walters Oval Church Pen;

Ewarton CC vs Taxi Association CC at Tru Juice Oval Bybrook;

JUTC Sports Club vs Naseberry Grove Police Youth Club at Jose Marti High School.