Fearless JDF ready for strong Kingston

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) player/coach Wayne Cuff says while Kingston possess a number of national players, his team does not plan to show any fear when both teams meet at Up Park Camp today in Group C of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Limited-Overs Championship.

Kingston, who lead the group with maximum six points - having scored two wins in their opening games - are expected to have in their line-up national batsmen Brendan Nash, captain Simon Jackson, wicketkeeper Chadwick Walton and fast bowler Andrew Richardson, as well as Combined Campuses and Colleges pacer Boris Hutchinson.

Also, the Tigers, as Kingston is called, only need a win to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.

This is in stark contrast to the JDF who, apart from young national fast bowler Sheldon Cotterell, will look to former national batsman Cuff, national invitee left-arm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli, and seasoned veterans Joseph Palmer and Akbar Moodie in their bid to create an upset.

Batting a concern

The JDF have so far notched up a one win and one loss in their two opening matches.

"We know that they have a number of national players, but we plan to primarily bank on our senior players and talented youngsters such as Jermaine Harrison and Bulli," said Cuff.

"Our batting has been a concern since the start of the season, but our bowling has been pulling us through. So the aim is to get both areas performing so that we can pull off the win," he added.

Kingston, in the meanwhile, will be hoping that Jackson, Nash, Walton and Hutchinson continue their good form.

Jackson scored 89 and Hutchinson claimed six wickets to lead the Tigers to victory in their first game against Police, while Nash and Walton made 66 and 65, respectively, in their triumph over St Mary last weekend.

"JDF traditionally is a good team with good individual players and, as such, we will not be taking them lightly," said Jackson.

"We want to secure a spot in the quarter-finals and it's about going there and executing," he added.

In other matches, defending champions St Ann, with Xavier Marshall in their line-up, will go in search of their second win in as many matches in Group A, when they play away to struggling Hanover at Elgin Town.

St Ann on top

St Ann lead the group with three points, the same as Trelawny, who have one win and one loss, while Hanover and Westmoreland with one point each round off the standings.

In Group B, leaders St Catherine Cricket Club will seek to become the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals, when they host neighbours St Catherine Cricket Association.

The Tamar Lambert-led St Catherine CC have maximum six points, while St Catherine CA are yet to get off the mark, despite two attempts.

The group's other matchup will see third-place St Elizabeth, with Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Shawn Findlay, playing away to G.C. Foster College, who are yet to get off the mark.

Kingston and St Andrew and Boys' Town will do battle at Maxfield Park in Group D, in the day's other encounter.