Manchester, St Elizabeth battle for Senior Cup

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Fast bowler Daren Powell will this weekend seek to guide St Elizabeth to their second national title, when they face defending champions Manchester in the final of the two-day Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup at Alpart Oval, beginning at 10:00 each morning.

Powell, who is also captain of the team, is expected to face stiff competition from his opposite number, Gary Graham, whose team is seeking to land the triple, as well as winning this championship for the third time in four years.

"It should be a ding-dong battle," said Barry Barnes, coach of Manchester.

"St Elizabeth is a formidable team and has been steadily improving under coach Clive Ledgister. But we have a good cadre of players who know what it takes to be champions, and will be going all out to defend our crown.

"I hope the spectators come out and watch what should be a good match," he added.

inspiring performances

In addition to Graham, Man-chester, who for the past two seasons were tops in the now-defunct Jamaica Super Cricket League, will be looking for inspiring performances from batsmen Donovan Sinclair, Zeniffe Fowler and Damion Bryce, and off-spinning all-rounders Jamie Merchant and Ziggy Levy.

St Elizabeth, on the other hand, who will be without the in-form Brenton Parchment, who has jetted off to England to play county cricket, will have in their line-up wicketkeeper Shane Powell, batsmen Damian Ebanks and Cassius Burton, and spinners Howard Powel and Linton Buchanan.

Ledgister confident

"Manchester have beaten us over the past couple of years, but what is happening now in St Elizabeth is something different, with several members of successful youth teams graduating to senior level and performing," said Ledgister.

"Powell has also been doing a very good job in guiding the team, and once we turn up and play the game that I know we are capable of I am confident that we can come out on top," he added.

Both teams, in the meantime, will be without the services of some of their most impressive junior players.

St Elizabeth, who defeated St Ann in the semi-finals, will be without Donovan Nelson, who is away on West Indies under-19 duties, and batsman Brian Gayle, who is in training with the national under-19 team.

Manchester, on the other hand, who gained a walkover against Melbourne after the latter failed to adequately prepare their pitch in the other semi-final, will be without Oshane Walters, who is also in training with the national under-19 team.