Confident Melbourne, JDF meet in Senior Cup final

Enterprising Guyanese opening batsman Trevon Griffith is confident that Melbourne CC will emerge victorious over the Jamaica Defence Force this weekend's final of the two-day Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup at Sabina Park.

The Andrew Richardson-coached Melbourne, who are seeking a repeat of the title, also got the better of perennial title challengers St Ann in the quarterfinal round, and according to Griffith, these victories, coupled with the team's overall form put them in good stead.

''Back-to-back titles is the aim,'' said the 26-year-old Griffiths, whose knock of 107 piloted Melbourne to 415 for eight declared in their first innings against Kingston.

Opener Tarique White, 101, and United States batsman Steven Taylor, 81, also got among the runs. Kingston, in reply, were bowled out for 160, while batting a second time Melbourne reached 153 for eight.

''I feel very confident about the side as we have been playing well, and I think we have a very good chance. We have the experience of spinner Nikita Miller, who is a proven performer, Andre McCarthy, who is a performer at first-class and local cricket, and Tarique, who has scored two centuries this season.''

First-class cricketer

Griffiths, who for the past three seasons has represented the Jamaica Scorpions in the regional four-day tournament, also went on to name himself, West Indies 'A' leg-spinner Damion Jacobs, Taylor, and exciting young fast bowler Oshane Thomas, as other frontline players, who if required can get the job done.

Asked about the threat of the JDF, in the meanwhile, Griffith said his team has got what it takes.

''The JDF has proven itself over the years. We all know fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell is a senior first-class cricketer, spinner Dennis Bulli, who has taken most wickets in the competition so far , has played a couple of first-class games and have quality, while batsman Jermaine Harrison has represented the Jamaica Scorpions at the one-day level,'' he said of the army men, who are seeking to reclaim the crown after back-to-back triumphs in 2015 and 2016.