Sport

Manchester celebrate Cup win

By DARAINE LUTON, Freelance Writer

Manchester's left arm spinner Andre Dwyer was the chief destroyer against the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) in the Supreme Ventures Super Cup final at Kensington Park. Dwyer produced Man-of-the-Match figures of 14 for 140 in leading Manchester to a 42-run win over JDF. He bagged nine for 103 in the first innings and five for 37 in the second. Scores: Manchester 175 and 216; JDF 225 and 124. - RICARDO MAKYN

MANCHESTER YESTERDAY HOISTED the Michael Holding trophy after beating the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) by 42 runs in the final of the Supreme Ventures Super Cup played at Kensington Oval.

Andre Dwyer, the Man-of-the-Match, returned figures of 14 for 140 in setting up Manchester's victory.

The leftarm spinner bagged nine for 103 in the JDF's first innings and then five for 37 on yesterday's final day of the three-day game, helping Manchester to record a come-from-behind victory.

Dwyer ended the season with 58 wickets.

On Friday, Manchester, sent to bat by the JDF, made a paltry 175 all out to which the soldiers replied strongly with 225, a lead of 50. It was the first time for the season Manchester were conceding first innings points.

After closing Saturday's second day at 169 for five, 119 runs ahead of JDF, Manchester eventually reached 216 all out, a half hour before lunch yesterday as Wayne Cuff claimed four scalps in the morning session.

Set a victory target of 167, JDF got off to a poor start and never recovered. First innings topscorer Anthony Folkes was bowled for eight with the score on 16. Bereston Reid went two runs later via the run out for two and before the JDF could recover, pacer Stephan Patterson had Mark Gray caught by Matthew Sinclair at 20 for three.

However, Cuff and Damion Grey added 38 runs in 64 minutes for the fourth wicket. Grey played back to Dwyer with the score on 58 to become the spinner's 10th victim in the game.

Mel Wint, who made an unbeaten 44 in the first innings, stayed with his captain long enough to add 30 runs. Cuff went for 43 after he was bowled by spinner David Powell. His dismissal brought Andel Daley, JDF's last recognised batsman to the crease.

Daley added 14 with Wint but played back to Powell and was adjudged leg before at 94 for six.

Wint and Howard Copeland attempted a late order rally. Copeland took two boundaries off Patterson on the stroke of tea but that turned out to be the last time the soldiers smiled.

Dwyer struck with the last ball of the first over after the resumption, removing Wint, who pulled a long-hop into substitute Beris Hutchenson's hand at mid-wicket, starting the slide.

Kamal Dennis was bowled for a duck by Dwyer, who trapped Omar Ellington for a duck two deliveries later, leaving the JDF at 112 for nine.

Warren Medwinter stayed around for a while with Copeland but when showed a well-flighted delivery from Dwyer, went for the big hit and was caught two metres from the boundary ropes by Patterson.

It was jubilation all around for Manchester who immediately went on their victory lap.

"It feels very good. It is something we worked hard for and to achieve it we are very happy," said Manchester's captain Matthew Sinclair, who stroked 50 in his team's second innings.

"Once we saw that we lost first innings, I told the team we had to dig deep and that is what we did. We demonstrated guts, strength and the desire to win and that accounted for our success," Sinclair added.

Cuff said poor application by JDF's batsmen let them down.

"Manchester played well but if we had applied ourselves better we would have won," said the former Jamaica batsman who, also announced his retirement.

Along with the coveted silverware, Manchester took home $500,000 for winning the tournament and the JDF pocketed $250,000.

Melbourne's Marlon Samuels who topped the batting and bowling averages, was voted the tournament's MVP.

Samuels, who is on 'A' Team duties with the West Indies, scored 288 runs at an average of 57.3 runs and took 34 wickets in the six matches that he played.