The University of Technology held their nerve to get into the final of the Jamaica Cricket Association JAMT20 competition with a 22 runs win over Westmoreland at Kensington Park in Kingston yesterday.
The University of Technology held their nerve to get into the final of the Jamaica Cricket Association JAMT20 competition with a 22 runs win over Westmoreland at Kensington Park in Kingston yesterday.
In the first of two semifinals on the same day, UTECH who are playing in the competition for the first time, were asked to bat by their more experienced opponents.
Batting at the top of the order Dalbert Gayle took full advantage of being dropped when on 10, to amass a top score off 77.
UTECH also owed their challenging total to David Bernard Jr. After 15 overs, his team was on 100-3 and probably hoping to get in the region of 130. But then Bernard Jr. exploded to life in the 16th over when he smashed Rassei Spencer for six 6’s and a four in an over that also had 2 no balls.
Spencer’s solitary over went for 44 runs as the Knights wrestled the advantage in a game that was, up to that point, squarely in the balance.
The partnership between Gayle and Bernard Jr was the most productive of the UTECH innings and when Gayle was caught at long off, Bernard continued the late innings assault on the Westmoreland bowlers as the Knights posted a challenging 185-5 off their 20 overs.
Westmoreland had only one run on the board when they lost their first wicket and from then on they were always just a little bit off the pace in their pursuit of 186 to win.
Spencer, who had been mistreated in his one over of bowling did his best to repay the compliment. Batting at number three, he scored a quick fire 36 to keep his team in the game. In fact, Westmoreland took control of the match in the middle of their innings, reaching 102-4 in the 11th over.
Three quick wickets in the space of two overs, saw Westmoreland slip to 130-7 in the 15th over as indiscipline crept into their batting. The Knights could sense blood and went in for the kill to eventually bowl out their opponents for 163 with 8 balls to spare.
Andrew Richardson topped the bowling for UTECH with 3 for 35 from his four overs while Damion Williams and Ransford Merchant chipped in with two wickets each.
UTECH will face St. Catherine in the final today Sunday September 29, at the same venue starting at 2pm after last year’s beaten finalists advanced on net run rate when their game against JDF ended in a no result. St. Catherine had posted a very imposing 255-3 from their 20 over but only managed to bowl eight deliveries before rain brought an end to the day’s proceedings with the JDF on 7-1.
Photo: David Bernard Jr. watches a ball unto his bat
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