JAMAICA GRANDE DREW first blood in their John Issa/SuperClubs, Super-Inclusive Resorts sponsored St. Ann/St. Mary Hotels Best-of-Three cricket final, following their 11-run victory via the Duckworth/Lewis system over defending champions Royal Decameron at Content Gardens Oval yesterday.
Scores: Jamaica Grande 235 for nine off 45 overs; Royal Decameron 127 for five off 25.2 overs when the rain came at about 5:10 p.m.
Sent to take first strike, last year's beaten finalist, Jamaica Grande, got off the a good start with former Jamaica youth player Danza Hyatt (78) and Dean Richards (17) put on 57 for the first wicket.
Hyatt, who plays for St. Catherine in the Surrey Senior Cup, played shots all around the small Content Gardens ground, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in his run-a-ball knock.
Also getting among the runs for Jamaica Grande were Damion Wilmot, 32, and David Bernard Jr., 29, against Nehemiah Perry (4-24 off 9 overs).
When the defending replied, they lost Hamilton, zero, Alton Taylor, four, Brian Murphy, three, Orville Pennant, 26 and Tyson Gordon, 49 (6x4) to be 120 for five. Cleveland Davidson, 21, and Perry, yet to score, were at the wicket when the rain came. Bowling for Jamaica Grande, Keith McCrae took 3-40. The second final will be played on Thursday at the same venue.
