Cave Hill, GC Foster win

Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer

Defending champions Cave Hill and G.C. Foster College were winners on yesterday's opening day of the University of Technology (UTech) 20/20 cricket classic.

In the double-header at UTech, University of West Indies (Cave Hill) from Barbados defeated hosts UTech by seven runs in a nail-biter, while G.C. Foster thrashed Southampton Solent University by eight wickets.

An important 47-run ninth wicket stand between Barrington Yearwood, 34, and Ulril Batson, 30, set up Cave Hill's victory. They were struggling at 34 for eight when the pair got together, after Ricardo Williams had ripped through the top-order with 4-22.

Boris Hutchinson (2-21) and Christie Jones (2-11), supported Williams as Renaldo Arthur, 15, was the only other batsman to get into double figures.

Replying to Cave Hill's 105, UTech also got off to a rocky start but, unlike Cave Hill, they never recovered from 35 for five and were eventually dismissed for 98 off the last ball. Jeffery Scott, 15, and Ricardo Williams, 22, scored most runs for UTech against Batson 4-12 and Dario Vaughn 3-19.

In the day's opening game, Sheldon Powell smashed an aggressive 61 off 41 deliveries - with eight fours and three sixes - to lead GC Foster College to their impressive win. Phillip Pinnock supported with 25.

Solent were restricted to 108 for eight. Owamir Afiaal, 33, and Tom Morton, 22, got most runs against Andre McCarty (2-11).

The competition continues today with two matches. UTech take on UWI Mona at 9 a.m. and The Mico University College face GC Foster College at 1:30 p.m.