Jamaica Clubs: Gayle scores record 271 as Lucas lift Cup (7 June 1999)

7 June 1999

Jamaica Clubs: Gayle scores record 271 as Lucas lift Cup

The Jamaica Gleaner

Lucas batsman Christopher Gayle placed his name in the Senior Cup record books at Chedwin Park yesterday.

Gayle who resumed batting on 233 yesterday went on to score 271, the highest individual score in the Senior Cup competition, as Surrey Senior Cup champions Lucas won the inaugural Rothman's national cricket title.

Scores in the drawn game were St. Ann 386 and 81 for three; Lucas 685.

Champions Lucas collected $100,000 while St. Ann took home the runners up prize of $50,000.

Resuming yesterday on their overnight 367 for two, Lucas easily took first innings points before moving to a 299-run lead on first innings ten minutes before tea.

Gayle's 271 bettered the previous record score of 235 held up to yesterday by Kensington's Robert Haynes. His was the third wicket to fall at 435, stumped by wicketkeeper Ainsley Edwards.

Gayle who won the man-of-the-match award, faced 357 balls. He hit 37 fours and one six. Delroy Morgan joined in the run spree late in the day with an impr essive 150 in 193 minutes from 168 balls. His knock contained 17 well executed boundaries. Also among the runs for the Preston Road-based aggregation were Oneil Cruickshank who chipped in with 60, Ryan Wellington 53, Royan Smith 47 and Kevin Riley 32.

Whilby who bowled both medium pace and off-spinners yesterday took four wickets for 191 to head the St. Ann bowlers.

Batting a second time, St. Ann lost three quick wickets including top batsman Leon Garrick who was caught by Cruickshank off the bowling of Wellington for 17, Lincoln Edwards was left unbeaten on 18, with Edwards top scoring with 38 not out. Wellington took two for 20 while the other wicket went to Xavier Gilbert.

At the end of the game Lucas coach Dennis Miller had high praise for Gayle's innings which he described as "absolutely gorgeous,".

"(Christopher) Gayle provided the backbone of our victory and along with (Delroy) Morgan combined to give us our second straight title. It was a great team effort," Miller added.

Cleon Smith, coach of St. Ann, was unhappy with his team's poor middle-order batting after openers Leon Garrick and captain Ainsley Edwards had posted a solid 282 for the first wicket.

"On Friday's first day we had a hand on the cup but our middle-order batting let us down after we had a very good opening start by openers (Leon) Garrick and (Ainsley) Edwards," Smith said.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner