Jermaine Lannaman, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Olympic 100m and 200m silver medallist, Yohan Blake, said it felt good playing competitive cricket yet again after featuring in Bartley's X1 Kitson Town's 36-run win over Correctional Services in the Sherwin Williams-sponsored St Catherine Cricket Association Twenty20 League match at Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.

Blake made a run-a-ball 20, which included a straight six that cleared the venue and broke the windshield of a car in the parking lot, before he was the last man out off the last ball of the innings.

His team posted a modest 154 off their allotted 20 overs.

Opening the bowling against former West Indies Under-19 batsmen Nkrumah Bonner and Shacoya Thomas, Blake went on to end with none for 27 off his maximum four overs.

His figures helped to restrict Correctional Services to 118 off 19.1 overs.

Left-arm seamer Romeo Duncan, with six for 10, ended as Bartley's XI's leading wicket-taker against Thomas 44 and Courtney Bredwood 31. Aaron Cox, 41, top-scored for Bartley's XI, while Thomas took three for 30.

"It felt good out there today as though I have played in competitions before. This is my first competitive game since the Olympics," said Blake.

"It felt good while I was batting, as the longer I was at the crease I grew in confidence and was beginning to middle the ball.

"Meanwhile, when I was bowling, while not at my best, I was able to show some control and swing the ball around a bit," he added.

Proposition

The Kingston Cricket Club member, who since the Olympics has been linked with the Australian Big Bash Twenty20 League, also said he hoped to use the St Catherine competition to prepare should the proposition Down Under become a reality.

"My manager is presently having discussions with the Big Bash League to see the possibilities and if it is possible I won't mind participating," Blake said.

"This competition, therefore, is a good one as it means I would be preparing for something bigger."

The Big Bash is normally held between December and February.

jermaine.lannaman@gleanerjm.com