Jamaica close JCF with comprehensive win over Canada

Hosts Jamaica recovered from Saturday's poor result against Ireland, proving too strong for Canada, as it romped to a 63-run victory to extend the winless streak for the North Americans in the Jamaica Cricket Festival.

The Jamaicans, playing their last game of the series, got off to a strong start after winning the toss and deciding to bat first at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium with top-order batsmen Brenton Parchment, Danza Hyatt, Donovan Pagon and John Ross Campbell, powering the locals to an impressive 175-4 in its 20 overs.

Parchment was particularly severe during the early exchanges as he set the stage for the massive total, hitting Canadian bowler Rizwan Cheema for 17 runs off the sixth over to push the Jamaicans to 51 without loss at that point.

Hyatt, was in no mood to sit around and keep quiet as he took 10 runs off the next over which was bowled by Hiral Patel. The onslaught included a massive six that almost ended up in the Jamaican players' pavilion, as the pair took 13 runs off that over amidst cheers of approval from the fans that were scattered in the stands.

Hyatt was however undone in the very next over, as Cheema returned to exact revenge when Hyatt skied his shot which was taken by wicketkeeper, Ashish Bagai, to bring his explosive 48-run innings to an end after two massive sixes and seven fours in 33 balls.

Parchment followed shortly afterwards for 22, caught by Zubin Surkari in the backward point region off the bowling of Sunil Dhaniram to leave the Jamaicans at 83-2.

Campbell and Pagon then took up the mantle towards the middle of the innings, posting 52 runs for the third wicket.

Pagon, who was dropped by Dhaniram, in an over in which the Jamaicans scored 22 runs, went on to make an unbeaten 33 from 25 balls while Campbell added 28 of his own with two sixes and a four from 25 balls.

Andre Russell (14 not out) and Carlton Baugh (17) pushed up the total during the closing stages to send the Jamaicans on their way.

Canada was never really in the contest as it was blown away by the Jamaicans for a meager 112-8 in its 20 overs.

Former West Indies youth player Krishmar Santokie was in fine form, taking 3-7 in three overs and got going after picking up the wicket of Trevin Bastiampillai for a duck, with his very first ball of the afternoon in Jamaica's second over inside the Canadian response. Bastiampillai could not keep his shot down and was caught by Donovan Pagon to send the visitors on their backfoot.

Santokie was at it again in his second over, getting rid of Hiral Patel (2), caught by Campbell in the covers as the Canadians struggled on 20-2.

Rizwan Cheema, who was beginning to look dangerous after two big sixes, was stumped by Carlton Baugh off the bowling of Bevan Brown after he launched the second of his two sixes off the previous ball.

Baugh produced his second stumping of the afternoon to remove Jawad Dawood for a duck off the bowling of leg spinner Odean Brown as the Canadians continued to find things difficult.

Captain Ashish Bagai was once again the most successful Canadian batsman, scoring a run-a-ball 51, including two fours and a six.

Jamaica's coach Junior Bennett was happy with the team's improved performance and expressed satisfaction with the contribution of the young players in the squad such as Campbell and Kemar Marshall.

"We are pleased with our performance throughout the festival. We are happy with the performances of the youngsters that we introduced this year and we were much better with the bat today," said Bennett.

"The openers gave us a good start and the batsmen did well to put them on the back foot and put away the poor deliveries."

Canada's Pububu Dassanayake was understandably disappointed with the performance of his team.

"We didn't do too well at all when they made 175, it was pretty much unreachable for us but it's good to see Ashish (Bagai) still getting some runs. That's the only positive about this. We are now hoping to have a better time at Sabina Park," said Dassanayake.