Calm nerves, as well as the strong backing of the incredible turnout of fans at Alpart on Sunday helped Junction defeat favoured Content Gardens in the Social Development Commission's (SDC) 20/20 cricket final.

The St Eizabeth team also earned the $500,000 first prize after Vere Technical schoolboy Orayne Holness stroked veteran Canute Ferguson through midwicket and ran three to earn victory at 135 for five in fading light.

The run-chase had been set up by shot-filled knocks of 41 and 30, respectively, from the Powell brothers, Shane and Troy.

Composure

However, the game was still in a dicey balance when Troy departed at 118 for five.

However, Holness (17) in partnership with Algrove Johnson (6), kept the composure by stroking the spinners nicely for singles and twos to end a run-chase that got difficult after Courtney Laing had snared three for 12 off three overs.

Johnson, too, had his highlight, eliciting the biggest cheer of the match when he knocked over the stumps of the dangerous Howard Harris with the last ball of the second over after his team had won the toss and invited the St Ann stars to take first strike. Harris, who hit a whirlwind 96 against dethroned champions South Stars the previous week on his home ground in Content, St Ann, had looked menacing as he slashed the first ball of the innings bowled by pacer Richard Simpson over point for four. He then secured two boundaries in that first over, pulling short balls over square leg.

Dismissal

At 12 for one, the left-handed Canute Ferguson initially looked like he would fill the breach left by Harris' dismissal, probably playing one of the shots of the day - square cutting Simpson high over point for six.

A good total looked to be in the making at 72 for one after 10 overs, but the loss of Ferguson for 38 with the score on 74 in over number 11, quickly turned to 85 for five and subsequently 103 for six off 16 overs.

They would eventually reach 133 for nine following the completion of their allotted 20 overs.

Captain Troy Powell, a former player for St Elizabeth and Manchester, said he couldn't find words to express his joy.

"It's just a great feeling, I can't even express myself right now. It's just overwhelming," he said.