CRICKET:- Veterans hold key to final THE two-day showdown between Melbourne and Westmoreland in the Rothmans National Cricket Championship opens at Melbourne Oval today with the home team and defending champions favourites to win the title. Runners-up in the Surrey Senior Cup to Kingston CC who pipped them by one point, Melbourne won a place in the final after defeating Middlesex Senior Cup champions St. Catherine Parish by an innings and 35 runs in the semi-finals at Port Esquivel last weekend, and after a glorious fight back in the first innings, Westmoreland booked their place with an impressive nine-wicket victory over Kingston CC at Allan Rae Oval. Based on the performances of both teams in the semi-finals, the showdown should be a bruising affair, and Westmoreland, the Cornwall champions, must be aiming to go all the way. The odds, however, favour Melbourne in what, looking at the record of both teams since the start of all-island competitions in 1990, the players on both sides, and the individual statistics in the season to date, appears to be somewhat like a contest between "David" and "Goliath". Unlike Westmoreland whose best performance is reaching the final of the Sandals limited-over competition in 1998 when they lost to Kingston CC, Melbourne boast a history of winning. Winners of the Senior Cup a record 22 times - including five times since 1991, and winners of the County Championship two out of four times, Melbourne won the all-island league four times out of seven before it was stopped in 1996, so far they have won the Sandals seven times out of 11, and their record in the National Championship is one from two. Unlike Westmoreland who parade two former Jamaica representatives in batsman Cleveland Davidson and pacer Anthony Andrews, Melbourne, even without Marlon Samuels who is absent, boast one West Indies representative in batsman Robert Samuels, one other present Jamaica rep in batsman Carlton Baugh Jnr., and one former Jamaica rep in batsman Colin Fletcher. Statistically, Melbourne, in terms of individual achievements such as wicket hauls and centuries, also boast a better record. Westmoreland's bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings on three occasions and their batsmen have scored 11 fifties, Melbourne's bowlers, however, have taken five wickets in an innings five times, 10 in a match once, and their batsmen have scored 10 fifties and two centuries. Statistics, however, like history, may not be that important - especially when it is remembered that Westmoreland's schedule called for nine matches, including the semi-final round, that rain ruined two, and that although rain affected three of their matches, Melbourne played 11 - including the semi-final. What is important is the skill and experience of the opposing players. Once again, however, Melbourne, seem better equipped. Led by the experienced Samuels and Fletcher, Melbourne, with Aubrey Wollaston, Dillon Ebanks, Llewelyn Meggs, Baugh and Ray Stewart in their line-up, parade a good batting team, and with the youngsters, pacer Conroy Miller, offspinner Ramon Hutchinson, and left-arm spinners Dwayne Cooper and Nikita Miller looking better and better each weekend, with medium-pacers Meggs and Stewart in support, their bowling should be in good hands. Westmoreland's batting does not appear as strong as Melbourne's. Their first six, however, youngsters Damion Davidson and Dwayne Ewart, veterans Esrick Colquhoun, Chris Miller and Cleveland Davidson, plus Andrews, can be dangerous; and although offspinner Michael Salmon is off the island, so too their attack of pacers Andrews, Sean Banton and left-hander Vinard Woolcock, medium-pacer Clive Thomas and offspinner Davidson. At the end of a match that could see one of two veteran batsmen, Fletcher or Cleveland Davidson, deciding the issue, will it be Melbourne again or will it be Westmoreland for the first time? Winning is a habit, and chances are it will be Melbourne. The men from the west, however, are hunting something to really celebrate, and after reeling at 48 for five and reaching 197 in reply to Kingston CC's 147, after knocking the Surrey champions dizzy at six for five in the second innings and storming to victory, like "David" they fear no one - not even Melbourne in their own backyard.
|
