The popular Social Development Commission (SDC) Community Twenty20 cricket competition will see in an increase in purse money come next year, says Sports Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange.

Speaking at the awards ceremony for the 2008 staging of the competition, which was won by Manchester's South Stars, Grange told the gathering that the first-place cash award of $150,000 would be increased by over 200 percent and will see the champions this season taking home $500,000.

The prize money for the second and third place teams will also be increased from $75,000 and $25,000 to $300,000 and $150,000, respectively.

Parish winners, it was also announced, will also receive a prize increase. Last year, parish winners took home $30,000.

Last season's parish winners were: Kingston & St. Andrew North - Grants Pen; Kingston and St. Andrew South - Union Gardens; St Thomas - Yallahs; Portland - Buff Bay; St Mary - Top Pen; St. Ann - Summer Hill; Trelawny - Granville; St James - Orange; Hanover - Elgin Town; Westmoreland - Broughton; St Elizabeth - Barbary Hall; Manchester - South Star; Clarendon - Race Course and St. Catherine - Old Harbour.

Good support

During the final held last December at the Alpart Sports Club, St Elizabeth, South Star defeated Broughton of Westmoreland for the title. South Star won the toss and put in Broughton to bat and the men from the west posted 151 for seven in their 20 overs. Ewan Andrews top scored with 62, while Tedroy Brydson - 34 provided good support. Denroy Boothe of Broughton bagged three for 22 in 4 overs.

South Star won the match with a massive six by Dean Walters (38) off Ewan Andrews to end their innings on 155 for six in 19.1 overs. Eukel Bloomfield top scored with 77. Clive Thomas of Broughton got two wickets for 18 runs in his four overs, which included the only two maidens of the match.

The competition, which was first held in 2006 to sensitise communities across Jamaica about Cricket World Cup 2007, returned on the back of strong demand by numerous communities across the island and the SDC has committed itself to ensuring that it runs for a long time.