St Catherine Saints celebrate winning the Jamaican Super League (JSL) after receiving the championship trophy and cash prize from Paul Campbell (left), chairman of the JSL at Port Esquivel yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

St Catherine Saints completed a fine season in the Jamaican Super League with an emphatic nine-wicket win over St Elizabeth Sharks at Port Esquivel yesterday.
The JDF Army Brigades have been relegated after losing the relegation battle to fellow strugglers Westmoreland Wizards, who earned themselves a play-off spot against the runner-up in the second division Senior Cup.

It's a huge relief for the Wizards, who owed much to the experienced pair of Myron Wilson and Crafton Clarke, as they eked out first-innings in their drawn game at Alpart Sport Club.

But while the Wizards are contemplating what's next, joy all round filled the sunny sky at Port Esquivel, as the Saints captured their second domestic league title in three years.
St Catherine, resuming on 155 for four responding to Sharks' first innings score of 294, were well on their way with Danza Hyatt (91) and Andre Russell (36) steadying things after Shacoya Thomas went early. But when Hyatt (five fours and two sixes) fell to Alton Beckford (5-119), who ran through their middle, the Saints seemed likely to end the season on a sour note.

However, like true champions, they dug deep with Odean Brown (47) and Gavin Wallace (28no) adding 71 for the last wicket that carried them to 334.

Spurred by the heroics of Brown and Wallace, the Tamar Lambert-led St Catherine turned up the pressure on the visitors, who meekly succumbed to 137 for a lead of 98. Leg-spinner Brown returned to bag 4-21, while receiving assistance from off-spinner Bevon Brown (3-45) and Wayne Morgan, 2-38.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Shane Powell (66) topscored for the dethroned champions with a quick-fire half century from 45 balls, but Odean, who ripped through the middle order, maintained the grip throughout. Set 99 to win from at least 33 overs, St Catherine galloped to 101-1 in 14.5 overs. Junior Stewart (54no) led the charge with an aggressive knock from 37 balls, while Morgan (33no) anchored well at the other end to cap a remarkable season.

"Today's performance is indicative of how we've played this season," St Catherine team manager Ransford Evans summarised after the team collected the winning trophy and prize money of $1 million.

"We have come to play two days of complete cricket (and) in many senses some teams fell short of playing two days of full cricket," Evans added.

Wilson and Clarke, both playing their first match of the season for the Wizards, used their wealth of experience to good effect, as the latter bagged 4-32, while the former took 3-68 in dismissing the Soldiers for 230 after posting 351-7 declared. Bereston Reid (49) and extras of 42 were the main contributors for the Army Brigades.

Batting a second time, the Wizards reached 77-4 with Nickoy Samuels (52no) registering his second half ton of the match.
At the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, the Buccaneers thrashed Kingston Tigers by eight wickets. Having claimed first-innings on day one, the host racked up 225 to lead by 79. Kingston, batting a second time, offered little and were bowled out for 121 with fastbowler Kemar Allen snaring 5-51 in combination with captain Lorenzo Ingram, who claimed 4-20. Set 42 to win the Buccaneers romped to 46-2.

At Melbourne Oval: Despite half-centuries from Daniel Ricketts (65), Gary Graham (63), Ziggy Levy (63) and Donovan Sinclair (52) Melbourne still grabbed first innings honours over Manchester Lions, who made 318 replying to 401 made by the Kangaroos. Yannick Elliott snatched 8-93 to hand the host three points as the game petered out to a draw with Melbourne on 152-6 at the close.

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