Manchester aiming to turn tables on weakened Kingston

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Batsmen Courtney Allen and Zeniffe Fowler will seek to continue their good start to the Jamaica Cricket Association Super League when their team, defending champions Manchester Lions, hosts Kingston Tigers in the fourth-round play, beginning today at Kirkvine.

With two half-centuries thus far, the pair is expected to form the backbone of Manchester's attack, along with left-arm spinner David Powell and off-spinner Jamie Merchant, as they seek to turn the tables on Kingston, who defeated them on first innings last season.

"It is still early days as though we are leading the competition, we still have Melbourne to play. We also have Kingston - who defeated us last year on first innings - to play and set the record straight," said Manchester coach Barry Barnes.

Leading the way for the Tigers will be the out-of-form opener Simon Jackson and batsman Brian Latore.

Two of Kingston's most out-standing players this season, batting all-rounder Nkruhmah Bonner and wicketkeeper-batsman Kemar Marshall, will both be unavailable.

Bonner left the island recently for Barbados as one of Jamaica's inductees to the inaugural West Indies Cricket Board-Sagicor High Performance Centre, while Marshall will be with the national Under-19 team, who are having trials.

Putting up a good fight

The Tigers' bowling will be led by national pacer Andrew Richardson and promising left-arm spinner Paul Harrison.

"We are not as strong as we would want to be, but we plan to go down there and put up a fight," said Kingston's coach, Terrence Corke.

In other matches, second-place Melbourne Kangaroos, who are expected to feature Marlon Samuels, will play away to former champions St Catherine at Chedwin Park, while Trelawny Buccaneers will host St Elizabeth Warriors at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Recently promoted St Ann Cutters and Westmoreland Wizards will do battle at Kaiser Sports Club in the round's other match.

Meanwhile, the second tier Jamaica Senior Cup, which is now approaching the semi-final stages, is slated to resume next weekend.