All-Island limited-overs competition bowls off today

THE ALL-ISLAND limited-overs cricket competition finally gets under way today with 20 teams, including defending champions St. Ann, in the hunt for the title and the $70,000 winners prize.

The competition, previously sponsored by Sandals, was twice postponed due to the lack of sponsor. It is now part-sponsored by the Jamaica Cricket Board of Control which will put up the prizemoney of $116,000 and the umpires' fees.

The participating teams will pick up the other costs such as travelling, lunch and balls.

The runners-up will receive $30,000 with $5,000 each going to the man of the match in the semi-finals and $6,000 to the man of the match in the final.

St. Ann, conquerors of the Jamaica Defence Force in last year's final, will be up against Manchester in one of the three feature matches.

In the other two it will be Surrey Senior Cup champions Kingston CC versus Lucas and Melbourne, seven-time champions and recent winners of the National Championship, up against Portland.

Matches scheduled in the 50-over-a-side competition are: Group A - Trelawny versus St. James at Hampden, and Westmoreland, runners-up in the national Championship, versus Hanover at Allan Rae Oval. JDF have drawn a bye.

Group B - St. Ann versus Manchester at Content Gardens and Clarendon versus St. Elizabeth at Jamalco with Police drawing the bye.

Group C - Kingston versus Lucas at Sabina Park and St. Catherine CC versus St. Thomas at Chedwin Park with St. Catherine Parish drawing the bye.

Group D - Portland versus Melbourne at Folly and St. Mary versus Boys' Town at Gray's Inn with Kensington drawing the bye.

The top team in each group will contest the semi-finals with the two winners meeting in the final.

Back to Sport