Latore leads Tigers to first innings

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Former national youth invitee Brian Latore scored 83 runs on the weekend to guide his team Kingston Tigers to first innings honours over St Ann Cutters in their rescheduled Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Super League clash at Sabina Park.

Resuming on his overnight score of 35 at the end of Saturday's day one, Latore, who was netting his second half-century of the season, ticked off 10 fours and a six, as the Tigers, responding to the Cutters' first innings score of 237, scored 242 runs of their own.

St Ann, batting a second time, reached 163-3 before rain brought a premature end to the game at approximately 4:30 p.m. with discarded national opener Xavier Marshall in devastating form.

Marshall, who was the second best batsman for St Ann with 44 in their first innings, ended on 63 not-out, inclusive of five sixes and two fours. Left-arm spinner, Paul Harrison, with 2-42 ended as the home team's best bowler.

Future hopes

"I feel good to have led from the front. It's a result that puts us in the top three and the hope is that from here we will maintain this momentum," said Latore.

"I personally could leave the island this week to play overseas, but I know that we have the players to win this competition," he added.

The result propelled the Tigers to 12 points, the same as St Elizabeth, who trail leaders and defending champions Manchester Lions by one point.

Orville Pennant, St Ann's captain, who top-scored with 94 runs in their first innings, said Kingston's middle order simply played well.

"We should have scored over 300 runs when we batted as it was a good batting pitch. But credit to Latore and the rest of their middle order, they applied themselves," he said.

The competition will resume this weekend with the playing of the fifth round of matches.

Advance to semi-finals

Meanwhile, it now appears certain that St Mary and Clarendon will advance to the semi-finals of the second division JCA Senior Cup along with Kensington and St Thomas.

St Mary defeated Hanover by an innings and 15 runs in a rescheduled fixture at Elgin Town to book their spot, while Clarendon seem set to receive maximum points from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), who failed to turn up for another rescheduled game against Clarendon at JAMALCO.

It is understood that due to the ongoing state of emergency in Kingston and St Andrew, the JDF will not participate any further in the competition.

At Elgin Town, Hanover made 110 and 109, and St Mary in reply conjured 234-7 declared. Jermaine Chisholm 6-27 crafted Hanover's demise, while Maurice Clarke 70 and Aldane Thomas 67 led the way when St Mary batted.