Defending champions Kingston College and Jonathan Grant High square-off in the Sunlight Cup cricket final at Melbourne Oval today with the action set to get under way at 10.30.
A one-inning affair for which three days have been reserved, the showdown is a repeat of last year when KC, thanks to a man-of-the-match performance of 118 and six for 65 by Marlon Samuels, won their 20th lien on the title and robbed Jonathan Grant of their first success. In marching to this year's final, both teams won all three matches in the semi-final round.
In Group A, Kingston College defeated Waterford Comprehensive by 59 runs, St. Andrew Technical by 11 runs, and St. Catherine High by a commanding 237 runs.
In Group B, Jonathan Grant picked off St. George's College by 36 runs, Bridgeport Comprehensive by 90 runs, and Wolmer's by a comfortable six wickets.
KC's batting will be centred around opening batsmen Sean Cousley and Kemar Duncan, who scored 112 and 144 in the semi-finals against Waterford and St. Catherine respectively, with support expected from captain Shane Brooks, Merrick Watson and allrounder Martin Isaacs. Their bowling attack will be led by pacers Andrew Richardson and Allistair Shermon, and spinners Kerry Scott, Orville Clarke, Brooks and Isaacs.
Jonathan Grant's batting will be led by Tamar Lambert, who blasted 161 in last year's final and who scored 117 against Wolmer's in the semi-finals. Support should come from Andre' O'Sullivan, who was unbeaten on 70 against Wolmer's, Gerald Morgan and Leroy Wilson. The bowling will be spearheaded by pacers Howard Walters, Roshane Ferron and Brian Chambers, leg-spinner Leon Rodney, and off-spinners O'Sullivan, Lambert, and Morgan.
KC won the title in 1941, 1942, 1946 (three-way tie with Calabar and St. George's College), 1947, 1949, 1953, 1955, 1962, 1964, 1970, 1973, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1997
Day 1: KC pile on the runs
Versel Thompson, Freelance Writer
CRICKET: A solid six-wicket partnership between Kerry Scott and Lincoln Granston powered champions Kingston College to a comfortable 262 for seven on yesterday's first day of the three-day Sunlight Cup finals against Jonathan Grant High at Melbourne Oval.
After winning the toss and electing to take first strike on a strip tailor-made for batting, the opening pair of Kemar Duncan (47) and Sean Cousley (26) batted solidly to take the defending champions to 75 before legspinner Leon Rodney ended the partnership when he took a return catch to dismiss Duncan, after the batsman hit nine boundaries in his knock which ended three runs short of a well-deserved half century.
Shane Brooks, the KC captain joined Cousley, but with the score still on 75, the opener did not last long as he was bowled by Jonathan Grant's captain Tamar Lambert and four runs later, Brooks was back in the pavilion, caught behind off Rodney by wicketkeeper Greg Hare for four with KC in trouble at 79 for three.
After going to lunch at 96 for three, KC fought back with Martin Isaacs and Merrick Watson making a partial recovery to pace the defending champions to 113 before Watson was bowled by Rodney for 13.
However, the day belonged to Scott and Granston who batted like true tigers when they responded well in their running between the wickets, while they dispatched the bad balls before Under-15 allrounder Andre O'Sullivan ended their innings.
Granston was the first to go, bowled by O'Sullivan for 39 with the total on 202 for six and then he had Scott caught by Bryan Chambers for 46, attempting to cut through the slips with the score at 207 for seven. Andrew Richardson, last year's national Under-15 captain, along with wicketkeeper batsman Andrew Dennis, further halted Jonathan Grant's march as they posted a-55 run unbroken eighth-wicket partnership before umpires Ian Grizzle and Leebert Thompson gave the batsmen the light to end play approximately 15 minutes early.
Rodney, who has so far taken four wickets for 95 runs from 39 overs, O'Sullivan, who took two for 69 from 29 overs and Lambert, one for 38 from 29 overs, were the wicket-takers for Jonathan Grant team. KC will continue batting this morning with Richardson unbeaten on 41 and Dennis on 10. The match starts at 10:30
Day 2: J. Grant in big trouble
Gerald Reid , Freelance Writer
CRICKET: Jonathan Grant High face a tough task overhauling defending champions Kingston College's 312 in the ISSA Sunlight Cup cricket final at Melbourne Oval when play resumes this morning at 10:30.
When rain stopped play at 2:30 p.m. yesterday, Jonathan Grant were struggling at 61 for three.
Rain forced the umpires to call off play after a second inspection of the pitch and field at 4:08 p.m.
Before the start of yesterday's play, the ball was changed due to wear and tear after Jonathan Grant had bowled 119.5 overs on the first day. Kingston College, resuming at their overnight score of 262 for seven, went on to add a 50 more runs. Andrew Richardson made 50, Andrew Dennis 23 and Alstead Shermon 14. The pick of the bowlers was Leon Rodney who captured six for 95 off 40.2 overs and Andre O'Sullivan who had two for 78 off 41 overs.
In reply, Jonathan Grant were in immediate trouble, losing their first wicket with only one run on the board as Gerald Morgan was caught but Shawn Cousley off the bowling of Richardson in his second over without scoring. Andre Chambers was next to go with the score on 19, bowled by Shermon for six. One run later Leroy Wilson was caught by Kerry Scott off the bowling of Richardson for 11.
At lunch Jonathan Grant were 26 for three wickets. It was then left to O'Sullivan and captain Tamar Lambert to lead the recovery but the task remains demanding.
Lambert is unbeaten on 31 after showing his class as one of Jamaica's top young batsman, while O'Sullivan is 13 not out. Richardson took two for nine off ten overs and Shermon one for 17 off six overs. If there is no result today, the game will moved into the fourth day to fight a winner
Day 3: KC retain Sunlight title
Gerald Reid, Freelance Writer
Defending champions Kingston College made easy work of Jonathan Grant High to retain the Schoolboys Sunlight Cup cricket title at Melbourne Oval yesterday.
Expectations of an entertaining encounter were dashed after Jonathan Grant, chasing Kingston College's 312, were bundled out for a paltry 119.
Jonathan Grant resumed their innings yesterday at 61 for three and with much resting on the shoulders of captain Tamar Lambert.
However, Lambert added only 12 runs to his overnight total of 31 before being caught by Kemar Duncan off the bowling of Andrew Richardson. After he went, it was easy going for Kingston College who claimed their 21st Sunlight Cup title before lunch. The Spanish Town boys could not cope with the bowling of pacer Richardson who captured five wickets for 17 runs off 17 overs which included seven maidens and Kerry Scott who had two for 27 off 14.5 overs.
Kingston College's coach Roy McLean said: ``One always feels good when you have a victory, especially a victory like this when the result was a direct result of the boys working hard.''
``We had hoped to pick up three wickets in the first session and decided to put pressure on Andre O'Sullivan (the other overnight batsmen),'' McLean said.
Losing coach Maurice Cole said: ``We lapsed in concentration in the field and dropped a number of catches and the batsmen didn't apply themselves.''