Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Westmoreland players celebrate the fall of another Kensington wicket at Sabina Park yesterday.
Jermaine Lannaman, Freelance Writer
WESTMORELAND WILL again ply their trade in the Jamaican Super League, after completing a convincing five-wicket win over Kensington in a play-off encounter at Sabina Park yesterday.
The scheduled three-day contest, which promised much but delivered little, saw Kensington making 97 and 137, and in reply, the men from out west made 141 and 94-5.
"It's a great feeling to know that we will be competing in the league next season," said Westmoreland captain Derval Green, whose teammates after the encounter exchanged high fives. "It's been a long season, and while we did not play very bad cricket, we found ourselves in the bottom two of the league and having to compete in the play-off.
"But we knew we had it in us to beat Kensington and that we did as the guys, especially Evon McInnis, came to the party," he said.
Westmoreland, who secured first innings on Friday's first day, were led to victory by McInnis, who ended the game a day early with a match haul of 11-57.
Thorn in the side
Maintaining a steady line and length and bowling some stiff bouncers, McInnis, who was named man of the match, was a constant thorn in the side of the Kensington batsmen in both innings.
"Our batsman just didn't bat," said Kensington skipper Dennis Bulli. "It's a tough loss as I thought we had a pretty good season, losing only in the (JCA Senior Cup) final to Hanover and now to Westmoreland.
"We are just unfortunate as, like them (Westmoreland), we finished in the bottom two last season, but instead of going to a play-off, we were relegated. We will just have to wheel and come again."
Kensington, who resumed the day on 1-0, were led to their second-innings total by Haniff Palmer, who made 37, while in Westmoreland's run chase, victory was set up by West Indies and Grenada batsman André Fletcher, who, in a 31-ball knock which included four fours and two sixes, made 41.
Kensington, in losing, will remain in Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup next season.
