Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

With their limited overs on-field cricket contest failing to provide a winner, the battle of the security forces look set for the boardroom.

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) All-Island Limited-Overs semi-final between the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) and Police ended in a tie at Kensington Park on Saturday.

Both teams were dismissed for 180 in the identical 49.3 overs.

At the end, there was uncertainty about which team would have advanced to face Melbourne in this Saturday's final, but yesterday, the JCA wrote both parties indicating that Police, who had scored more outright wins in the competition, would qualify for the final on that basis.

Protest

However, the JDF lodged a protest to the JCA and according to the team's cricket officer, Radcliffe Daley, they are not happy with the decision taken.

Daley further said he did not want to discuss the grounds on which they have lodged the protest.

"It is not an issue to be discussed in the press now," he said. "They (JCA) have taken a position, so we are dealing with the JCA formally in writing based on a number of factors and that's where we will leave it for now."

Daley said he hopes to hear from the board as soon as possible.

The JCA's rule book governing the competition does not make any mention about a tie at the quarter-final or semi-final stage. It only addresses tied matches in the preliminary round, or final.

The rule, under the section titled 'Preliminary Matches', with a sub headline 'Finishing Position', states the decisive factors as 1: the team with the most outright wins: or in a case where the number of teams in a zone is not equal, the higher percentage of outright wins; and 2, net run rate. Meanwhile Arthur Brown, manager of the Police team, expressed surprise at the JDF's protest.

Meeting

"We were in a meeting on Saturday evening after the game when all the criteria were read out to us and I can't remember the JDF complaining about the conditions."

Brown said he has no qualms about a replay.

"In the interest of cricket - I see no reason why we wouldn't," he noted.