Johnson Mountain secure third place in T20 competition

Johnson Mountain will not go home empty-handed in this year's SDC/Wray & Nephew National Community T20 Cricket Competition as the St Thomas-based team copped third place and $300,000 following their play-off win over White River Rebels of St Ann on Sunday.

It was a fitting finale for the easterners, who lost only one game in the competition this year - the semi-final against Gayle CC of St Mary.

It was the St Ann team, White River, who decided to take the first strike in a rain-reduced fifteen-overs-per-side game at the Ultimate Sports Club.

Openers Sanjay Hudson and Clifton Wray knew that early runs would be required, and Wray went on the attack, hitting two fours before he tried one aerial shot too many and was caught off captain Gavaskar Malachi for eight at 12 for one in the second over.

National senior player and captain Damani Sewell then came to the crease, and he and Hudson added a further 20 runs before Sewell was bowled by Romario Coley for seven at 32 for two.

When Watson was sent back leg before wicket off Malachi for 25 in the fifth over, the St Thomas team figured they could make further inroads in the White River batting line-up at 75 for three.

However, Kevin Daley and Durant Whyte had other ideas. The pair put on 47 runs for the fourth wicket before Whyte was run out off the last ball of the innings for a well-played 34.

UNBEATEN

Daley was left unbeaten on 32 as Malachi claimed two for 13 from three overs as White River posted 122 for four off 15 overs.

Needing to score just above six runs an over, Johnson Mountain sent out the diminutive Rheno Sinclair and Yahfi Gould to get some quick runs, and that they did. The pair put on 29 runs in just four overs.

That quick-fire start prompted Sewell to bring himself into the attack, and the move bore immediate fruit as the off-spinner sent back both openers to leave White River at 29 for two.

In came captain fantastic Malachi and Jair Campbell, and the pair virtually took the game away from the St Ann team, posting a third-wicket partnership of 69 runs.

Malachi hit five glorious sixes and one four in his innings of 48, while Clarke made an industrious 25 as Johnson Mountain romped home at 124 for four in the 14th over.

Malachi was pleased with his team's consolation win. "It's good to come out here and claim third prize and the $300,000, which put some respectability to the team's performance this year. We only lost one game in the entire tournament, by one run, and that goes to show how well we have played, and I am happy for the team, and next year, we will be coming stronger to claim the national title," he said.

Losing captain Sewell said his team didn't put up enough runs. "The lower order of our batting let us down today. We didn't get enough runs. However, I am still proud of my team for a good competition this year," Swell said.