Confident Manchester face Melbourne in semis

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Coach of defending champions Manchester, Barry Barnes, says his team will be going all out to get the better of Melbourne once again when both teams meet in one of the semi-finals of the two-day Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup at Melbourne Oval today and tomorrow.

The other semi-final, which will be played at Alpart Sports Club in St Elizabeth, will see the Brenton Parchment-led St Elizabeth going up against St Ann, which will be spearheaded by Xavier Marshall.

"Last season we played them in the final and deciding game of the season where we needed at least first-innings points to win the title and we got it," said Barnes, who is seeking to lead the team to a third straight title, and fourth in the last six years.

"This year with a change in format from a straight league to semi-final and a final, things are a little bit different, but our goal remains the same, to go into their backyard and get the better of them," he added.

unbeaten records

The match, which is slated to get under way at 10 a.m. each day, weather permitting, will see both teams putting their unbeaten records on the line, with Manchester who ended the first round with three outright wins and one first-innings points and a no-result record, having a slight advantage.

Melbourne finished the first stage with a record of three wins, a no-result and a first-innings loss.

"After a shaky start, we recovered to post three consecutive outright wins and if it was not for the weather I am confident that we would have recorded four," said Melbourne captain, batting all-rounder Yannick Elliot.

"With this recent run of form we are confident going into the semi-finals and once our players continue to play according to form I am looking forward to us coming out on top," he added.

Melbourne will be led by Elliott, Dean Williams, Andre McCarthy, John Ross Campbell, Marvin Lobban in the batting, while in their bowling that area will be spearheaded by West Indies spinner, Nikita Miller.

Manchester will look to the likes of former national senior team invitees, captain Gary Graham, Zeniffe Fowler and Donovan Sinclair, with former national youth players Jamie Merchant, Courtney Allen, Ziggy Levy, Oshane Walters and Terrence West, expected to provide valuable support.