Griffith’s smashing 237 lifts Melbourne into semis

Jan 25, 2017 Sports

Jamaica Observer – Guyanese left-hander Trevon Griffith clobbered 237 against Jamaica

Trevon Griffith is all smiles after his whirlwind knock of 237 carried Melbourne CC to 407-7 in the quarter-final against Jamaica Defence Force on Sunday. Melbourne won by 182 runs. (Bryan Cummings)

Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp in Sunday’s quarter-final, to power Melbourne CC to the semi-final of the Jamaica Cricket Association 50-over competition.
Melbourne, batting first, racked up 407-7 off their allotted 50 overs on the back of Griffith’s heroics en route to a massive 182-run win.
The army men scored quickly early on but could not sustain the tempo required, and were bowled out for 225 in 36 overs.
Scores: Melbourne 407-7 (50 overs); JDF 225 (36 overs)
Melbourne are set to travel to Chedwin Park to face reigning champions St Catherine CC in one semi-final on Saturday. In the day’s other last-four encounter, Kingston CC and Kensington CC are scheduled to lock horns at Kensington Park.
On Sunday, Griffith, who opened the batting, needed only 153 balls to chalk up his highest score in 50-over club cricket.
The batsman, who missed the final Jamaica Scorpions 14-man squad for the Super50 tournament, smashed 21 fours and 14 sixes. His previous best was 176 playing for Demerara CC in Guyana.
“I would rate it as one of the better innings I’d have played because I batted right through the innings and helped us to a good score. It was a quarter-final game and we needed one of the top players to bat through and get a big score; I put my hand up and did exactly that,” Griffith told the Jamaica Observer at the end of the game.
Earlier, JDF won the toss and sent Melbourne to take first strike, but it was a decision they would soon regret.
The slim-framed Griffith added 202 runs for the second wicket with Sadiki Bolt — the

Jamaica Defence Force batsman Jermaine Harrison plays to the leg-side during Sunday’s quarter-final match versus Melbourne CC at Up Park Camp. (Bryan Cummings)

brother of sprint legend Usain — as the soldiers’ bowlers were put to the sword.
Bolt hit 62 off 85 balls, while JDF medium pacer Ryan Bennett took 2-71 off eight overs. Part-time spinner Rasheed Outar ended with 2-65 off five overs.
In reply, JDF opener Jermaine Harrison thrashed a quick-fire 55, while middle order batsmen Outar and Sean Bennett contributed 39 and 32, respectively.
Bolt, bowling spin, grabbed 5-43 off eight overs, while off-spinner Yannick Elliott had 2-28 off six overs. The young Scorpions’ fast bowler Oshane Thomas snared 2-51 off seven overs.
In the other quarter-final on Sunday, Kingston defeated St Thomas CA by 85 runs at Kensington Park.
Scores: Kingston 265 (44.3 overs); St Thomas 180 (44.5 overs)
Earlier, Kingston won the toss and opted to bat first and got off to a flying start.
Aaron Johnson, who fired 74 off 58 balls, and Captain Garth Garvey, who made 40 off 26 balls, shared in a first-wicket partnership of 73 runs which came in seven overs and five balls.
After both were dismissed, wickets tumbled cheaply before a 79-run, seventh-wicket stand between wicketkeeper Kirk Harris and Abhijhai Mansingh ensured they had the momentum to surpass the psychological 250 mark. Harris slammed 82 off 81 balls and counted ten fours and a lone six, while Mansingh’s patient 23 came up in 74 balls.
St Thomas CC’s Omar Brooks took 4-60 off nine overs, while Chevon Simpson grabbed 2-24 off four overs.
Kenroy Williams top-scored for St Thomas with 39. Opener Andre Bryce also made 39, while his brother Damion — a left-hander — made 20.
Out-of-favour West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Carlton Baugh, batting at seven, was given out leg before wicket for zero. His dismissal at 82-5 in the 25th over left St Thomas’s run-chase in tatters and, despite lower order resistance, they were unable to snatch the win.
Pacer Odean Smith took 6-51 for Kingston, while spinner Patrick Harty grabbed 2-36.
In one quarter-final game last Saturday, St Catherine CC brushed aside visitors Lucas CC by 10 wickets at Chedwin Park.
Scores: Lucas 83 (27.3 overs); St Catherine CC 87-0 (7.1 overs)
In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Kensington CC eked out a two-wicket win over hosts Westmoreland CA at Paradise Cricket Ground.
Scores: Westmoreland 182 (30.4 overs); 183-8 (28 overs)

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