JDF, GC Foster storm into quarter-finals

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and G.C. Foster College secured the last two quarter-final places in the Jamaica Cricket Association Captain's Bakery Limited Overs Championship on Saturday.

Led by 69 from player/coach Wayne Cuff and captain Damian Gray, who took 4-36, the JDF defeated Police by 80 runs at Up Park Camp to book their ticket from Group C, while G.C. Foster, on the back of 86 from Kino-Paul Sailsman, 84 from Kirk Brooks, and 57 not out from Jamie Merchant, got the better of St Catherine CA by 236 runs at Spanish Town Prison Oval, to qualify from Group B.

The early qualifiers were defending champions St Ann and Westmoreland from Group A, St Catherine CC from Group B, Kingston from Group C and Melbourne and Kingston and St Andrew from Group D.

"It's a tremendous feeling to qualify as in more ways than one it represents the growth and development that has taken place at G.C. Foster as it relates to cricket since we started entering top-flight JCA competitions four seasons ago," said the institution's coach, Gibbs Williams.

"One of the reasons behind our performances thus far is the addition of Manchester's Zeniffe Fowler and Jamie Merchant, whose club did not take part in the competition due to a lack of resources.

"They have added that edge to the team and the hope is that they, along with the other members of the team, will take their form into the next round," he declared.

Winning the toss and inviting G.C. Foster to bat, St Catherine CA's bowlers were hit all around the ground as thanks to Sailsman, Brooks and Merchant, the visitors were able to post a challenging 338.

St Catherine CA, in reply, were undermined by accurate bowling from Joseph Lemmie 4-39 and were bowled out for 102 off 21.3 overs.

Meanwhile, the JDF posted 292 off 49.4 overs, with Jermaine Harrison supporting Cuff with 41, as Fabian Anderson took 4-54.

In response, Police were restricted to 212 with Gerald Laing and Odale Wickham scoring 43, while Gray and Sheldon Cotterell took 4-36 and 2-30, respectively.

"It was a good match to watch as both teams came out and played some good cricket," said Cuff.

"But we knew 293 was a lot runs to get and although they were at one stage 160-odd for four, we knew that we had it in us to pull through.

"I am really happy that we have qualified, but there is a lot of work still left to do and hopefully we can improve in the rounds to come," he declared.

In other results Melbourne, on the back of 3-14 and 31 not out from Damion Jacobs, defeated Kensington by seven wickets at Melbourne; St Elizabeth defeated Clarendon by six wickets at Manley Horne Park; while the Westmoreland versus St Ann matchup ended in a no-result draw due to rain; and St Mary gained a walkover against St Thomas.