Melbourne, Kensington hunt semi-final spots

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Melbourne will today and tomorrow embark on a campaign to secure a semi-final spot in Group D of the two-day Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup when they play Lucas at Nelson Oval in the final set of preliminary round matches.

The men from Courtney Walsh Drive, who were led to a comfortable five-wicket win over St Catherine on the back of a ten-wicket match haul from Nikita Miller, currently lead the group with 19 points.

This is four more than the Wavell Hinds-led Kensington who, needing to win outright to give themselves a chance, will host out-of-contention Boys' Town at Kensington Park.

Cautiously optimistic

The group is completed by two other out-of-contention teams Kingston (13 points) and St Catherine (nine), who will both square off at Sabina Park in the group's other encounter.

"We are cautiously optimistic," said Kensington captain Wavell Hinds.

"Cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. We plan to just go out there and play to the best of our ability, and let the results go where they may."

Kensington, in pursuit of their objective, will have to do without the services of rising leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, who suffered a broken finger in the second match of the season, and West Indies all-rounder David Bernard Jr, who since picking up an injury in the regional four-day tournament, is not yet back to full fitness.

They will, in the meantime, look to Hinds, in-form batsmen Ranville Brown, Horace Miller and Brian Clarke, all-rounder Ryan Francis, and spinners Randy Carter and Haniffe Palmer.

Boys' Town, on the other hand, who have won one and lost three of their games thus far, will bank their hopes on captain Marlon Keating.

In the game at Lucas, Melbourne, will be hoping that the form of batsmen André McCarthy and John Ross Campbell, and spinners Christopher Lamont and Miller, will continue, as they continue their march.

• England 342-6

LONDON:

Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan led England's recovery to 342 for six against Sri Lanka yesterday giving the home side a slight edge at the close on day one of the second Test.

Cook struck 96 and Morgan added 79 after England had stumbled to 22-3 in eight overs, having been put in to bat by Sri Lanka at Lord's. Matt Prior weighed in late on with 73 not out.

Playing each ball on its merits, Morgan struck 10 fours and two sixes off 128 deliveries at No. 6 to further advance his claims to replace the retired Paul Collingwood. He fell lbw half an hour before the close to Suranga Lakmal, who finished with 3-79.