Orange whip Riahs for title

Adrian Frater,
News Editor

Western Bureau:

Orange Cricket Club captured the coveted St James Cricket Association (StJCA) senior cricket title when they registered a six-wicket win over the previously unbeaten Riahs Cricket Club, in the final at Cornwall College, Montego Bay, on Sunday.

By virtue of their win, Orange walked away with the $50,000 winners' purse and bragging rights over Riahs, which have been the most successful team in the annals of St James' cricket. Riahs took home $25,000 for their losing effort.

"This victory means the world to the Orange community because they have been backing us all season," said Oniel English, captain of the Orange aggregation.

"Special credit must go to our top batsmen Vinroy Crooks and Nickel Scott, and fast bowler Dwight Washington, for their consistency throughout the season."

Riahs, which earned their slot in the finals after registering a comfortable 125 runs semi-final win over Overton on Saturday, won the toss and elected to bat.

Tight bowling

Confronted by tight bowling, they batted cautiously to accumulate 206 all out.

Stephan Steer emerged the outstanding batsman for Riahs, cracking seven fours and two sixes in a topscore of 66. Sean Edwards, 37, Hezekiah Lawson, 30 and Chester Sterling, 17 not out, also got among the runs.

Andrew Walker and Kelroy Haughton emerged the top wicket-takers for Orange CC, bagging three for 31 and three for 64, respectively. The other wickets went to Vinroy Crooks, who took two wickets for 50 runs and former West Indies fast bowler Dwight Washington, who took one for 34.

In their reply, Orange CC dominated the Riahs attack as they marched comfortably to victory, scoring 211 runs for four wickets. Crooks and Nickel Scott, who both scored centuries - 166 not out and 130 - in Orange's big semi-final win against Cornwall Regional Hospital on Saturday, again dominated.

Crooks dominated with a dashing 74, while Scott was also quite attacking with 30.

Openers Carl Tingling and Negust Samuels set the stage in a blazing 55-run first-wicket partnership, which saw Tingling and Samuels both getting 23 runs apiece.

Sterling was the only Riahs bowler to figure, returning figures of two for 18.