JDF aim to blast Kgn in JAM T20 battle

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Reigning national 50-over champions Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Kingston will today square off in the feature match of the new-look Jamaica Cricket Association JAM T20 Champion-ship at Up Park Camp.

The Zone D matchup, which is slated to get under way at 1:30 p.m., four hours after Lucas meet St Thomas in the opening game of what will be a double-header, will see the Simon Jackson-led Kingston looking to upstage the Damion Grey-led JDF.

"It's going to be hard to win the double, but we have our minds set and, hopefully, we can play well again and pull it off," said JDF player/coach Wayne Cuff.

Those expected to lead the big hitting charge for the army men are Sheldon Cotterell, Jermaine Harrison, spinner Dennis Bulli, Cuff and captain Grey.

Kingston, on the other hand, who lost to the JDF in the preliminary round of the 50-overs championship, will be banking their hopes on Chadwick Walton, Andrew Richardson, Simon Jackson and Boris Hutchinson, who also plays for the Combined Campuses and Colleges team in the regional competition.

"A lot of respect has to be shown to the JDF team, but I am confident that with the set of guys we have, and if we get it right on the day, we can beat any team in the country," said Jackson.

Elsewhere, beaten 50-overs finalists Melbourne, with Nikita Miller in their line-up, will take on Kingston and St Andrew in the feature game of Zone D in the Maxfield Park double-header.

opening game

The opening game will see Horace Miller's Kensington going up against Boys' Town at 9:30 a.m.

In other matches, Hanover will play Westmoreland at Paradise at 9:30 a.m. and St James will take on Trelawny at Paradise 1:30 p.m. in Zone A; Clarendon will tackle Manchester at 9:30 a.m. and St Elizabeth will challenge G.C. Foster at 1:30 p.m. in Zone B; St Mary will go up against St Ann at 9:30 a.m. and Portland will face Police at 1:30 p.m. at Ultimate; and at Prison Oval, Portmore XI will take on St Catherine Parish at 9:30 a.m. and Old Harbour will go up against St Catherine CC at 1:30 p.m.

The championship, which will offer a winner's prize of over $500,000, will continue tomorrow at the same venues, with other double-headers featuring the remaining teams from the same zones.