Big showdown looms for County crown (23 August 1999)

23 August 1999

Big showdown looms for County crown

The Jamaica Gleaner

A big showdown is expected this weekend at Nelson Oval in the Jamaica County Championships after Lucas defeated lowly Cornwall yesterday to join Middlesex at the top of the standings.

Lucas who beat Cornwall by an emphatic eight-wickets at Allan Rae Oval are on 13 points with Middlesex after persistent rain forced their match with the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) to end in a no-result on first innings at Up Park Camp.

Melbourne moved to six points after their game with Surrey also ended in a no-result on first innings at Melbourne Oval. The JDF are on eight points, Surrey six, while Cornwall have three.

JDF resuming on their overnight 185 for six, lost their remaining four wickets for 66 runs, as Jamaica Under-19 leg-spinner Kevin Peart captured four wickets for 46 off 20.4 accurate overs along with former West indies fastbowler Franklyn Rose 2-48 from 16 overs and Brenton Beckford 2-71 from 13. Only Ernel Smith who top-scored with 49, after adding 23 runs to his overnight tally, offered any form of resistance before being the last man out caught in the covers by Leon Garrick off Peart.

In Middlesex's reply, opening batsmen Garrick and Tyrone Gayle put on 48 runs before the latter was adjudged leg before to spinner Paul Brown for 26. Garrick followed 13 runs later when Brown had him caught at mid-off by Wayne Cuff for 28 while Orville Pennant was caught at short-leg by Mark Gray off medium pacer Howard Copeland for 19. Rose and Orlando Baker were the not out batsmen on 14 and 12 respectively. Paul Brown ended with two for 25.

At Allan Rae Oval: Christopher Gayle bagged seven wickets and scored a unbeaten half century to steer Lucas to an eight-wicket victory over lowly Cornwall.

Scores: Cornwall 112 (Brenton Parchment 26, Miron Wilson 17, Paul Palmer 16; Christopher Gayle 7-27 in 17.1 overs) and 95; Lucas 123 (Ryan Wellington 40, Xavier Gilbert 30; Ainsley Goss 5-38, Kamal Dennis 4-33) and 84 for two (Gayle 53 not out).

At Melbourne Oval: Melbourne and Surrey were locked in a battle for first innings points before rain had the final word..

Scores: Melbourne 294 (Robert Samuels 71, Colin Fletcher 42, Ray Stewart 34, Courtney Walsh 23; Ryan Cunningham 6-60, Audley Sanson 3-90); Surrey 173-6 (Lloyd Black 55 not out, David Bernard Jnr., 26; Winston Reid 4-33).

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)