Rule breach sees beaten semi-finalist Basement recalled to play Innswood Old Boys in final

Defending and four-time champions Innswood Old Boys will play two-time finalist Basement in the grand showdown despite trouncing the latter by nine wickets in the semi-finals two weeks ago.

Innswood’s opponent for the final should have been either of Old Harbour, the most successful team in the competition with 11 titles, or Passagefort from the ‘Sunshine City’ of Portmore.

Passagefort carved out a 22-run victory in the other semi-final over Old Harbour, who had West Indies player Rovman Powell in the team following an injury lay-off.

But the right to face Innswood in the April 28 final at the Ewarton Sports Club was far from over, with Old Harbour lodging an appeal with the parish’s governing body, the St Catherine Cricket Association, stating Passagefort had breached the elite rule quota which allows a maximum of two elite players per team in any given match.

In their letter Old Harbour argued that Passage Fort trio of Dwayne Guthrie, Fredrick Brown and Yanich Henry all fall under the elite player classification. 

Passagefort subsequently filed a counter claim on similar grounds contending that Old Harbour played an extra elite player when Powell joined Damion Wollistan and Ramone Francis in the starting XI.

After more than 48 hours of investigation and deliberations, both teams were found to be in breach of this rule and were prohibited from taking any further part in the competition.

In light of the unthinkable circumstance, the organisers made the decision to reinstate Basement who will be massive underdogs going up against the defending champions.

Innswood Old Boys will look to national players Oraine Williams, Jeavor Royal, Carlos Brown and captain Kirk Gordon to score the runs, while plenty is expected of Jermaine Bennett, Kevin Peterson and Royal with the ball.

As for Basement their batting will be hinged on national player Kemar Marshall along with Shaquille Greenwood, Jamie Hay and Richard Bradnock, while in the bowling department they will look to skipper Akbar Moodie, Okeith Broderick as well as Greenwood to do the damage.

But with the talent pool within the ranks of Innswood Old Boys it is going to take far more than an above average performance from Basement to lift the coveted trophy for the first time in its history.