Kingston Cricket Club (CC) Captain Akim Fraser says a change in the team’s philosophy was crucial in ending the club’s two-decade drought after winning the 2024 Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup. KCC beat the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) in the final at Sabina Park on Sunday by virtue of first-innings honours.

Scores: Kingston CC 251 and 219 for 8, JDF 185.

JDF, resuming on 58 for 4 in reply to KCC’s 251, saw their batsmen fail to make any real contributions as they lost wickets at regular intervals and were reeling at 139 for 9 inside 36 overs. However, Dennis Bulli and Sheldon Cottrell staged a lower-order fight back but it wasn’t enough as the army men were bowled out for 185 inside 3 overs, trailing by 66 runs giving Kingston CC first-innings honours. Odean Smith and Andre Bailey led the way with three wickets each.

JDF, however, were not giving up and had Kingston CC struggling at 35 for 3 in their second innings reply with Cottrell and Bryan making the breakthrough. But Brad Barnes joined Kirk McKenzie at the crease and the pair added a 100 runs to the score to give them a lead of 201 runs with the day quickly coming to an end.

After McKenzie were dismissed for 84 and 39 respectively, JDF gained a bit of momentum with a further two wickets to leave Kingston CC at 177 for 7 after 39 overs. But West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith’s 45 dashed all hopes of a JDF second innings chase as the match ended with Kingston CC on 219 for 8.

After losing in five finals including last year to St Catherine, Fraser says he was delighted to lead the team to victory.

“We get teased a lot about the nearly team, the almost team [because we] always get to the final and not cross the line, always falling short. But this season, my philosophy has really been about the strength of the unit. A lot of focus has been placed on team members, every member has played an important part, I’ve given them all the support I could have. I gave them all the encouragement and I tried to make it about individuals but about the team,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“When you look at our season, we had 20 different players playing in eight games because a number of people were unavailable due to national duties or West Indies duties but I made every member of the squad, who took part in training, feel like an important part of the team and that is what contributed to our success. We have outstanding performing of course. [Patrick] Harty has been brilliant all season, he is our MVP but it has been a team effort and if you ask anybody, it’s been key contributions in different places,” Fraser added.

With his knocks of 83 and 84 over two innings, the final’s most valuable player McKenzie was elated his contribution proved pivotal.

“It’s very pleasing knowing that I’ve been a key piece, it’s my first senior cup title so it’s very pleasing I just didn’t let the pressure get to me I stuck to my process. I knew that once I’m on the pitch, I can contribute for my team and we’d be in a good position. I know I’m capable of doing, I’ve done it already so it was just about stick to my processes and one day it would turn,” he said.

JDF Captain Kevin Daley believes his batsmen weren’t good enough over the two days to win them the title.

“Chasing 250 on first innings is enough for us but the batters didn’t come to work yesterday nor today,” he said. “We lost a few early wickets last evening and coming this morning with six wickets in hand to get 190, I think with the batting we have we could pull it off but obviously we had other plans so that’s where we lost. [Playing in a] final is not new to JDF. We have been to many finals, both limited overs and two days competitions but I think we just didn’t apply ourselves enough.”

With the win, Kingston CC took home a prize of $750,00 while JDF pocketed $500,000. Patrick Harty Jr was named tournament MVP and was also the leading wicket-taker of the competition while Melbourne’s Javale Glenn was the leading runs scorer, surpassing 500 runs.