JCA limited-overs semi action today

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Ephraim McLeod, coach of St Catherine, says his team is disappointed at the fact that the semi-finals of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Captain's Bakery Limited-Overs Championship will be played today, and not in another two weeks time, which he says was agreed on prior to the start of the competition.

The semi-finals, which will be staged at Melbourne Oval and the Ultimate Cricket Ground, will see last year's beaten finalists Melbourne playing host to St Catherine at the former, and defending champions St Ann entertaining the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at the latter.

"We are disappointed that the semi-finals are being played this weekend, as prior to the start of the competition, when the JCA called clubs and parishes to a meeting, it was discussed and agreed upon that at the end of the preliminary round there would be a break," said McLeod.

"This would be to facilitate the return of national players from West Indies Super50 tournament duties, as well as allow JCA to promote and build a hype, and if possible, get more corporate support going into the semi-finals.

"But all this has now changed, and what we are likely to have is a watered down semi-finals and final," he declared.

But chief operations officer, Courtney Francis, has denied the allegations of McLeod, saying that while the matter of postponing the semi-finals was discussed at the meeting it was never agreed upon.

"A suggestion was made, but there was no sign off, as everything that was discussed was based on money, and time available for the proper staging of a national Twenty20 competition ahead of January's lucrative Caribbean Twenty20 Tournament," said Francis.

"A number of things then materialised following the meeting, and he (McLeod) should know that a number of suggestions that were made could not stand.

"Secondly, the fixtures for the competition was sent out prior to the start of the competition, and no one complained regarding the new semi-final dates that were set, as everyone knew the tight spot that we are in and the need to stage the national Twenty20 competition," he added.

Meanwhile, both semi-final clashes will see each club, with the exception of the JDF, fielding below-strength teams.

Inspiration

Melbourne, who are missing the services of Marlon Samuels and Carlton Baugh Jr to the West Indies team, and Nikita Miller and Yannick Elliott to the national Super50 team, will look to Super50 captain André McCarthy, John-Ross Campbell, Sadiki Bolt, Damion Jacobs, and Christopher Lamont for inspiration.

St Catherine, who will be without Andre Russell, Danza Hyatt, Tamar Lambert, Odean Brown, will bank their hopes upon Bevon Brown, Gavin Wallace, Shacoya Thomas, Wayne Morgan and Keith Hibbert.

St Ann, in the meantime, who will be without Xavier Marshall, will be looking to outstanding performances from André Dwyer and Hanchard Hamilton, while the JDF will be hoping that Sheldon Cotterell and Dennis Bulli come good.

All four teams advanced to the semi-finals after heavy rains prevented any play in their quarter-final matches last weekend.