Resolute Farm Heights optimistic

Western Bureau: Farms Heights, the newly crowned 2011 St James SDC Twenty/20 cricket champions, are now brimming with confidence following their 25 runs win over Granville CC in last weekend's final at the Spot Valley High School ground.

"We believe we have the team to do well in the all-island play-offs," said Samuel Evans, captain of the Farm Heights team. "We have very good batting and bowling and once we apply ourselves well, we should do well."

In last weekend's final, which turned out to be quite an epic affair, the Farms Heights team batted first but after cruising along comfortably at 61 without loss, stumbled badly and were 148 runs for eight wickets at the end of their 20 overs.

Opener Dalton James was the top batsman for Farm Heights, smashing two sixes and seven fours in getting an attractive 66. Ramon Manderson, who played the anchor role in the opening partnership with James, got 16.

good start squandered

Fitzroy Purrier, who got a breezy 20; and skipper Samuel Evans, who got 14, were the only other Farm Heights batsmen to enter double figures as their middle order squandered the good start they got.

Bowling for Granville, Dwayne Waugh had two for 15 off three Overs; leg spinner James Edwards, two for 41 off four Overs; and Andre Stone, two for 35 off three overs.

In their reply, Granville got off to a terrible start losing opener Chevon Orette for one with just five runs on the board. However, Waugh and Eniel Blackwood took the score to 42 without further loss.

Farm Heights took control of the game when spinner Deon Dennis was introduced into the attack and promptly claimed a hat-trick, dismissing Blackwood for 24, Samuel Ferguson for 17; and Nicokamer Williams, without scoring.

With the cream of their batting gone, Granville went into decline as only Stone; who got 10, managed to get into double figure as Farm Heights ripped out the tail, dismissing them for 113 all out of 16.2 overs.