Police CA, St. Elizabeth CA, St. James CA and the Jamaica Defence Force will contest the semi-finals of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) T20 Bashment at Sabina Park on Saturday.
Police are, so far, unbeaten in the competition having won five games and having two abandoned due to rain to finish top of Pool 3.
In the quarterfinals last Saturday, they secured a 27-run win over Kingston Cricket Club at Chedwin Park to advance to the last four. They batted first and made 132-6 from their 20 overs thanks to a top-score of 51 off as many deliveries from Courtney Allen that included one four and four sixes. Medium-pacer Andre Bailey took 3-37 for Kingston. In reply, Kingston could only manage 105-9 from their 20 overs as pacer Kemar Anderson starred with 3-13 from four overs for Police. Johnois Sappleton also bowled well with 3-18 from his four overs.
St. Elizabeth CA, Police’s opponents in the first semi-final on Saturday, are also unbeaten having won five matches and having one abandoned to top Pool 1.
They reached the last four after a comfortable eight-wicket win over Pool 2 runners up Clarendon CC in the second game at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium last Saturday. Batting first, Clarendon were restricted to 125 all out from 19.5 overs. Jamaica Under-19 representative Adrian Weir top-scored with 47 against medium-pacer Andre McCarty’s 3-16 from four overs. Romaine Nembhard supported with 3-30 from his spell. St. Elizabeth then only needed 17.4 overs to reach 126-2 thanks to Bryan Gayle’s 69 not out from 52 deliveries including six fours and three sixes.
The second quarterfinal at Chedwin Park saw Pool 4 winners JDF secure a dominant 76-run win over Pool 3 runners up Kensington Cricket Club to continue their quest to add to their All-Island 50-Over title from earlier this year.
Batting first, JDF scored 152-6 from their 20 overs thanks to 38 from opener Kevin Daley and late contributions from Jamaica Scorpions pacer Gordon Bryan (29 not out) and captain Leighton Leslie (27 not out). Kensington skipper Ryan Francis took 2-28 from his four overs. Kensington’s chase never got going as only two players got into double figures before they were dismissed for a paltry 76 in 16.5 overs. Daley capped a fine all-round display with 4-12 from his four overs while Bryan chipped in with 2-19 from three overs and five deliveries.
JDF’s opponents in the second semi-final will be Pool 1 runners up St. James CA who got by Pool 2 winners Manchester CC by six wickets in the first match at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium last Saturday.
Manchester batted first and made 153-8 from their 20 overs thanks to 47 not out off 23 balls from Brian Clarke and scores of 26 and 24 from Brad Barnes and Jamaine Morgan, respectively. Ziggy Levy took 3-40 from his four overs. Levy then returned to anchor the successful chase for St. James, making a 45-ball 65 not out including eight fours and two sixes at St. James reached 156-4 off their 20 overs. Omari Wright provided good support for Levy with 34 while Morgan took 2-19 from his four overs for Manchester.
Semi-final one bowls off at 9:00 am while the second is scheduled for 2:00 pm. The final will take place on Sunday, also at Sabina Park.
Bradley Jacks is a budding journalist and an avid sports fan. His love of research and sports has led him to SportsMax.tv, a place where those passions work hand in hand to allow him to produce content.
Josh Tongue impresses and Ben Duckett shows pedigree – 5 England things
England started this eagerly-anticipated Ashes summer with a 10-wicket victory over Ireland in three days at Lord’s.
Ollie Pope’s 205 and a second Test century for Ben Duckett saw England declare on 524 for four and despite a spirited third-day display with the bat by Ireland, they were all out for 362 to set an easy target of 11 following their below-par 172 on day one.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how much we learned from this one-off Test.
Josh gets Tongues wagging
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Josh Tongue passed his Ashes audition with five for 66 in Ireland’s second innings to put his name on the honours board and leave an impression on his captain. Ben Stokes revealed ahead of the four-day fixture that Tongue was selected due to his extra pace and he hit 91mph during an impressive first spell. Tongue, who came close to retiring from cricket during a 15-month absence from the game due to a nerve problem in his shoulder, eased between an enforcer role and pitching it up as England’s third seamer. With 11 County Championship wickets to his name, including a certain Steve Smith, he is now a genuine option for the Ashes after being included in the squad for the first two Tests.
Duckett set for a bucket full?
An England bucket hat featured regularly throughout this Test but fittingly it was Duckett who plugged the new must-buy item of the summer on England’s official Twitter account. Duckett wore the hat after his masterful 182 that saw him set a new record for the quickest Test 150 at Lord’s, beating Don Bradman’s effort in the 1930 Ashes series. Since his December recall, Duckett has scored 50 or more six times in six Tests. He cut, drove and flicked off his pads for boundaries all around the wicket to back up the 177 he hit for Nottinghamshire at Lord’s in April. After finally being given the chance to play his natural red-ball game in international cricket, the 28-year-old looks set for a key Ashes role.
Has Bazball peaked?
England rattled along at six runs an over on their way to 524 before they declared after tea on day two. Duckett and Pope scored 174 in the morning, but that was bettered in the afternoon with 178 runs plundered before captain Stokes ended the run-fest after 82.4 overs. If Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow and the England skipper himself had batted for a significant amount of time, who knows what records could have fallen? While it was another excellent batting display for England, the asterisk on it will be Ireland’s one-paced attack. There is no doubt England’s achievement of scoring 500 on day one in Rawalpindi was a better feat and Pat Cummins and co will not provide so many freebies come June 16 at Edgbaston.
Under-cooked? That’s old skool!
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Stokes acknowledged after England’s 10-wicket victory that he knew when he declared after tea on day two that he would face questions over failing to let Brook, Bairstow and himself get time in the middle before the Ashes opener. It felt justified, especially for someone like Yorkshire batter Brook who enjoyed a phenomenal winter and even hit a maiden century in the Indian Premier League in April, only to be dropped after a string of ducks. But Stokes does not prescribe to that opinion and laughed off the “old skool” view his players need “game practice” given the volume of cricket they play. Maybe a fair point!
Prestige a Little lost
Josh Little’s name dominated the build-up from an Ireland perspective after the seamer was “rested” ahead of his nation’s 50-over World Cup qualification tournament later this month following his IPL exploits. Among a catalogue of reasons behind the decision, Cricket Ireland’s Richard Holdsworth worryingly admitted the Lord’s Test was a “special occasion but not a pinnacle event.” The rewards for Ireland qualifying for the World Cup are great but Little’s absence hurt a bowling attack lacking variation. With his stock high in franchise circles, Little may never play Test cricket.
Jamaica U17 Men’s Basketball program selects 50-player training group for Centrobasket U17 Championship
The Jamaica U17 Men's National Team Program has selected fifty players who will form the training cohort for the upcoming Centrobasket U17 Championship in Belize City, Belize.
The group will undergo rigorous training and compete alongside players from international try-outs, all with one common goal – to bring the gold medal back to Jamaica.
The journey begins with intensive training in regional cohorts, where these young athletes will receive specialized coaching and development. The regional cohorts will be based in St. James, Mandeville, St. Catherine and Kingston & St. Andrew. This comprehensive training program aims to enhance their skills, foster teamwork, and strengthen their mental and physical resilience. The players will dedicate themselves to honing their craft, working tirelessly to elevate their game to new heights.
To further their progress, the players will come together on weekends at the P.H.A.S.E. 1 National Training Centre. This unique opportunity allows them to train side by side, sharing experiences, pushing each other to the limit, and building the camaraderie essential for a successful team.
Prior to their departure for Belize, the athletes will showcase their skills and compete at the highly anticipated P.H.A.S.E. 1 Hoops Invitational on July 4th at GC Foster College in Spanish Town. This event will serve as a platform for the players to demonstrate their talents and gain valuable game experience.
Selected players will also embark on an exciting journey to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, from July 5-10, to participate in an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) event. This international exposure will test their abilities against top-tier competition, further sharpening their skills and expanding their basketball horizons.
Upon their return, the select players will reunite with the local and international Jamaica U17 cohort members for a final training camp at the Jamaica Basketball Star Search Camp, scheduled for July 16-22. This crucial period will be marked by intense training sessions, strategic game play analysis, and a keen focus on team chemistry.
"Our aim is to build a team that exemplifies intense defence, unwavering toughness, and a never-give-up attitude. We are focused on instilling these core values into our players through rigorous training and creating an environment that fosters growth and unity. We believe that with the right preparation and mindset, we can achieve greatness on the international stage" according to Wayne Dawkins, technical director for the Jamaica U17 National Team Program
Following the arduous training journey, the final selection will be made, and the chosen team will embark on their journey to Belize, to compete in the highly anticipated Centrobasket U17 Championship from July 26-30. It will be a momentous occasion as these young athletes proudly represent Jamaica, fuelled by passion, determination, and an unwavering desire to bring home the coveted gold medal.
Hope says focus is on development ahead of UAE series opener
West Indies ODI captain Shai Hope hopes to see development when his team takes on the UAE in three ODIs starting at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
The regional side will take on the UAE in three ODIs from June 4-9 before making the journey to Zimbabwe to take part in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers from June 18-July 9.
The squad for the UAE series will be missing some of the players who participated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) which ended last week, meaning several new players will get an opportunity to represent the region on the biggest stage.
“I just see it as another series,” said the 29-year-old in an interview on Saturday.
“Every time we step onto the park the aim is to perform for West Indies and it gives some new guys an opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage,” he added.
The squad will also include some players who have been selected for the qualifiers and Hope wants them to use this opportunity as preparation for the task at hand.
“For the members of the qualifiers squad, it gives us some prep leading into that important task,” said Hope before he reiterated the importance of development.
“Just want to see the guys continue to grow. The main thing for me is development. Over time, we’re going to get better and hopefully that one percent can be shown here in UAE,” he added.
Hope, the 12th ranked ODI batsman in the world according to the latest ICC rankings, also described working with new head coach, Daren Sammy.
“I can definitely commend the communication. I see everyone being clear and frank; that’s one of the main principles here. We haven’t had many training sessions to focus on more physical stuff. It’s been, more so, based around the mental side of the game. We know that Sammy loves his stats and his planning so we’re all on the same page where we’re looking to move West Indies cricket forward,” Hope said.
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