Hinds, Miller clash in Senior Cup opening round

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Wavell Hinds-led Kensington and Nikita Miller-led Melbourne will come face to face at Melbourne Oval in one of 22 matches that will be on in the first round of the newly restructured Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup, whose two-day fixtures are set to begin this morning.

The main showdown, which is slated to get under way at 10 a.m. each day, will see both teams seeking victory as they seek to claim pole position in Group D of the championship.

The group's other matches will see Kingston hosting Lucas and St Catherine Cricket Club welcoming Boys' Town.

Good chances

"We have been doing well against Kensington in the recent past and as such we are excited about our chances," said Shacurie Wilson, acting manager of Melbourne.

"We have a pretty good set of young players who have been playing for a number of years and I expect them to rise to the occasion and do well this year," he added.

The youngsters are batsmen Yannick Elliott, John Ross Campbell, Andre McCarthy and Sadeki Bolt, left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont and leg-spinning all-rounder Damion Jacobs.

Most are former national youth standouts and, along with the experienced Miller, could prove to be a handful for Kensington, who prior to this year's merging of Super League and Senior Cup teams, participated in the latter.

Melbourne's task won't be easy as Kensington boast a number of players who could turn out to be match-winners.

These include young national players, batsman Horace Miller and leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, former national youth standout, batsman Rasheed Outar and wicketkeeper Jefferey Scott.

"Since hearing that the competition will finally start in May, we have been doing some work and we are reasonably prepared for the contest," said Kensington's coach, David Bernard Sr.

Other matches

Other matches on: Group A - Westmoreland vs Hanover, St James vs Trelawny: Group B - Manchester vs Clarendon, St Catherine CA vs G.C. Foster: and Group C - Police vs St Ann and Portland vs St Mary.

Twenty-two competitors, comprising nine clubs and 13 parish association teams, will participate in the championship which according to the JCA has been restructured to reflect the association's commitment to keep the game revitalised and lessen the logistical costs, given the tough economic circumstances with which they are faced.

It will be played in three phases, beginning with a preliminary round in which the 22 teams have been drawn in four geographic zones.

Each team will play zonal matches on a round-robin basis with no return games.

The winner on points will advance to the semi-finals, from which the two finalists will be determined.

The ultimate champion will be decided in a final matchup played at Sabina Park.