Jermaine Lannaman, Freelance Reporter

Hanover celebrate winning the JCA Senior Cup finals against Kensington at Sabina Park yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Hanover produced a brilliant second day performance to defeat Kensington outright and win the Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup at Sabina Park yesterday.

In what turned out to be an enterprising second and final day, Hanover were led to victory on the back of some fine bowling from pace-bowling brothers Kenneth and Hugh Blackwood, who in the first and second innings, respectively, were a constant thorn in the side of the Kensington batsmen, who could only manage 173 and 80 in reply to Hanover's totals of 197 and 100.

"The guys played reasonably well and I am proud of them," said winning coach, Michael Clarke. "We have been playing well all season and we were always confident of coming out on top. It was a total team effort," he added.

In the first innings, Kenneth took 4-53 and in the second Hugh grabbed 7-34, with off-spinner Omar Campbell (2-43 and 2-16, respectively) providing good support.

Resuming the day on 94-2 and needing a further 106 to claim first innings honours, which could have decided the title, Kensington batted poorly and lost wickets at regular intervals. From the fairly good position of 122-2, they slumped to 136-6 before being dismissed 25 runs short of the target.

Went on offensive

Having lost first innings points, Kensington went on the offensive in trying to force an outright win and courtesy of another fine bowling performance from leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, 7-35, and Dennis Bulli, 3-25, gave themselves a chance when they were able to restrict Hanover to an even 100 in their second time at the crease.

Set a touch-and-go victory target of 126 off a minimum of 17 overs in the final hour at 7.43 runs per over, the men from Preston Road tired, but could not withstand the pace and accuracy of Hugh Blackwood and company and were bowled out for 80, some 44 runs shy of their target.

Losing coach, David Bernard Sr, put the loss down to inexperience and pressure.

"I thought the pressure got to some of the fellows and they didn't handle it well," he said. "We lacked the batting discipline required to chase a modest first innings."

Hanover, in winning, received $300,000, the Senior Cup Trophy and automatic qualification to the premier competition (Super Cup) next season, while Kensington received $100,000 and will play-off with Westmore-land next weekend for the right to compete in the semi-pro league.

Westmoreland finished second from bottom in the Jamaica Super League semi-pro league this year.