DAMION Jacobs put in a terrific player-of-the-match performance to lead the Half-Way-Tree Sparks to a 16-run victory over Mico University College in yesterday’s championship match of the UTech 20/20 Cricket Classic at the University of Technology.

Jacobs cracked eight fours in his 55 from 49 deliveries to lift the Sparks to 146 all out in their allotted 20 overs, and then crippled the Mico batting with crucial wickets to help restrict them to 130-9. The wily leg-break bowler ended with 4-27 off four overs.

Scores: Half-Way-Tree Sparks 146 (20 overs); Mico University 130-9 (20 overs).

Aside from Jacobs’ half-century, the Sparks’ total was built around number six batman Rohan Williams, who hit a cameo 39 off 17 balls, inclusive of seven fours and one six. Opener Andre Bryce chipped in with a run-ball 18.

Bowling for the Mico team, medium-pacer Herman Henry snatched 3-19 off three overs, while left-arm spinner Fredrick Hermit finished with 2-23 off four.

Left-arm seamer Stephan Patterson and off-spinner Ramon Senior grabbed a wicket a-piece.

In reply, Mico’s marquee batsman Shacoya Thomas (11) was out caught to the combination of left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont and wicket-keeper Garfield Moore.

Mico never quite recovered from that early loss and despite Henry’s 28 and Ricardo Ennis 24, they fell short.

Paul Harrison supported Jacobs with 3-13, while Garth Garvey and Lamont took a wicket each to help seal the win.

It was sweet revenge for the Sparks after they had suffered a four-wicket loss to the Marescaux Road team during the preliminary rounds.

Conversely, it was a bitter pill to swallow for the Mico outfit, who were losing their fourth final in the five years of the UTech Classic.

Jacobs took the MVP of the tournament award with his haul of nine wickets and total of 119 runs. The all-rounder was also awarded for topping the wickets’ chart.

Thomas was the leading run scorer with 198 runs.

The six-team tournament, contested over five days, was supported by main sponsors Hi-Lyte Sport drink, as well as Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), CVM Television, KLAS FM 89 and the Jamaica Observer.