JACK’S RIVER WHIPPED IN LP MARTIN 35-OVER FINALS
Gayle Cricket Club whipped Jack’s River to be crowned champions of the LP Martin St Mary Cricket Association 35-over Elite Cricket Competition, for 2024.
Gayle won what turned out to be a one-sided contest by ten wickets on Sunday, December 22, 2024.
(St. Mary L P Martin 35-Over Cricket champs Gayle United, share a championship moment with sponsors and officials at the presentation ceremony following the finals at Jack’s River last Sunday.)
Jack’s River were asked to take first strike after losing the toss and were bundled out for a paltry 48, finding the spin of Gihon Murdock 4 for 13 and Marlon Byfield 3 for 11 too tricky to handle. Gayle opted to open the bowling with an all-spin attack made of the two St. Mary parish spin bowlers in their arsenal.
Murdock in particular caused problems for the batsmen with his variation and turn, while Byfield kept a tidy length. Bowling for Gayle, former Jamaica under 17 representative, Aan Ennis, also chipped in with 2 wickets for 3 runs with his medium pace.
(Gihon Murdock from Gayle, Most Valuable Player of the St. Mary L P Martin 35-Over cricket competition, receives a cash prize and a pair of cricket pads from Junior Mattison, First VP of the St. Mary Cricket Association following the finals at Jack’s River, December 22, 2024)
In their turn at the crease, Gayle romped past the score without losing a wicket as Jamaica unde-19 wicketkeeper batsman Trevaun Williams and Ennis made light work of the meagre target.
The prize giving ceremony was sponsored by Costley Construction and Courier Service. Sandals Royal Plantation and Sandals Dunn’s River.
St. Mary’s rising batting star Zendai Williams received cash prize and a bat for being the top batsman and leading run scorer of the tournament. Gihon Murdock received cash and cricket gear for being the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the finals,
Gayle received the LP Martin and Sandals Trophy, medals and cash prize for first place. Jack’s River received the runners-up cash prize and medals.
Executive chairman of L P Martin Funeral Home Zachary Irwin expressed pleasure at the manner in which the competition was run and thanked the St. Mary Cricket Association for an
excellent season and their work in promoting grassroots cricket.
Harrington Costley, owner of Costley Construction and Courier Service and a long-time sponsor of St. Mary cricket lauded the finalists and noted that his company was also pleased to be a supporter of local cricket in the parish.
First vice president of the St. Mary Cricket Association Junior Mattison said despite the poor weather which plagued the competition, the association ensured the majority of the matches were played. He said the competition had unearthed much talent and he hopedthe players would continue to show discipline and dedication.
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