Western duo take aim at semi-finals

Broughton CC of Westmore-land, and Elgin Town CC of Hanover will both be eyeing semi-final places when they oppose Content Gardens and Old Harbour CC, respectively, in tomorrow's 'Super Eight' action in the 2011 SDC Twenty/20 Cricket Competition at Eden Park in St Mary.

In the 10 a.m. opening game, the Broughton aggregation, fresh from topping Group C in the just-concluded regional stage of the competition, will meet Content Gardens, the runners-up from Group D, while in the second game at 2 p.m., Elgin Town, the runners-up behind Broughton will meet Group D champions Old Harbour.

Broughton, who are led by national youth player Paul Palmer Jr, are currently bubbling with confidence, after completing their Group C fixture with maximum nine points. Last weekend they were emphatic, scoring a crushing 10-wicket win against St James champions Farm Heights.

Inviting Farm Heights to bat, after winning the toss, Broughton brushed them aside for a mere 69 in 14 overs, as only Tyrone Johnson, with 13, and Dalton James, with 11, entered double figures. In reply, Broughton raced to an effortless win, scoring 72 without loss in seven overs, as Andre Andrews and Myron Wilson, with unbeaten knocks of 35 and 22, sparkled with the bat.

Elgin Town, who entered their game against Trelawny's champions Allsides tied on points and knowing that the winners would advance, had to dig deep to come away with a three-wicket win to set up tomorrow's assignment against Old Harbour.

Elgin Town first dismissed Allsides for 71 in 19.5 overs as only Rupert Green, 22, and Garth Powell, 13, got meaningful scores. In reply, Elgin Town made 76 for seven off 14 overs. Shion McFarlane, 20, and Carlington McFarlane, with an unbeaten 14, led their team to victory.

Broughton's opponents, Content Gardens, should be quite competitive, especially if they are to recapture the form they showed in last weekend's 52-run win against Port Antonio. Content Gardens made 159 for nine off 20 overs and in reply, Port Antonio fell for 110 off 10 overs.

Elgin Town should have a fight on their hands against an Old Harbour team, which had a two-wicket win against Jack's River last weekend.

After holding Jack's River to 132 for seven off 20 overs, Old Harbour made 133 for five off 18 overs to win the game. Dempsay Salmon, with an unbeaten 44 and Donvelle Brown, with 32, led the victory charge.