Big prize money for top teams in SDC Twenty20

The 2010 Social Development Commission (SDC) National Twenty20 Community Cricket League was officially launched on Thursday at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew.

With a prize money of $500,000 for the winners, $300,000 for the runners-up, and $150,000 for the third-place finishers, the league, which is in its third year, will see the top three emerging from a total of 396 teams, which began the tournament on May 22.

"Based on feedback from participating communities the competition has had an profound impact, and we look forward to an exciting climax to the competition," said Terrence Richards, programmes coordinator of the SDC, at the launch.

The league, which is now at its parish semi-final stage, is slated to end on September 12. Prior to that, the various parish champions will compete at the national finals, which will begin on August 8.

The 14 parish champions as well as the two best runners-up will constitute the parish finals.

"I am happy that I was able to play an important part in making the prize money attractive," said Sports Minister Olivia Grange in her address.

"The greatest social transformation tool is sports, and we hope that this SDC initiative will help to boost this fact, and will continue to grow from strength to strength," she added.

Step in the right direction

The league, which was captured by St Elizabeth's Lititz/Comma Pen in 2006, and Westmoreland's Broughton in 2008, was last year won by St Elizabeth's Junction ahead of St Ann's Content Gardens.

Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) president Paul Campbell said the league, which will see the winners qualifying for the JCA Red Stripe Twenty20 Championship, continues to be a step in the right direction as it relates to the growth of the sport.

"As guardians of the cricket, we are challenged to develop the game, and the national community Twenty20 league is one such vehicle," said Campbell.

David Mais, chairman of the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), said his organisation was proud to be associated with the event for a third year running.

"The competition is a mantra of our motto, which is 'Development of a Nation through Sports'. It was therefore with great pleasure that, with the support of the Ministry of Sports, we were able to contribute $5 million to the event this year," Mais said.

The league, in addition to the SDF's contribution, is being sponsored by Lasco Remittance Services, agents of MoneyGram, Juici Patties, Logo Stitch, Singer Jamaica, Gas Products Limited, The Gleaner and The Star, Hitz 92 FM and TVJ Sports Network.