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| Andrei Roper - Brand Manager, Intralot Jamaica (right) presents all-rounder Andre Russell with plaque for scoring the most sixes in the SVSB Ja. Cricket Festival |
Regional cricket kingpins Jamaica and visiting Ireland, played to a draw on Monday as the opening match in the Inaugural Supreme Ventures Sports Betting (SVSB) Jamaica Cricket Festival concluded at Chedwin Park in St. Catherine.
The final day was highlighted by some awesome hitting from all-rounder Andre Russell, who followed up his impressive bowling effort in the Ireland innings (Russell took 4-41), to smash an unbeaten 108, in Jamaica’s 2nd innings total of 314-7. Russell got good support from opener Brenton Parchment (83) and Danza Hyatt (53, following his 1st innings 55).
Earlier in the day, Ireland failed to add to their overnight 275-9, as Jamaica quickly ended the innings and the opening pair of Parchment and Hyatt set about doing some damage. Debutant Akeem Dewar supported Russell well with figures of 4-81.
Parchment and Hyatt’s opening partnership of 100 set the platform for Russell, who came in to dominate the afternoon proceedings, smashing 7 fours and 10 sixes, in his 65 ball knock.
Gary Kidd had best bowling figures for Ireland, with 3-102.
Final scores, Jamaica 339 and 317-4, Ireland 275.
Post-match, Russell received awards courtesy of title sponsor Supreme Ventures Sports Betting, for taking most wickets in the match (4), and for hitting the most sixes in the match (11). Supreme Ventures Sports Betting will be awarding these prizes, in addition to a prize to the winning team, for all the matches in the remainder of the Jamaica Cricket Festival.
In addition to the fireworks on the field, promotional activities were conducted throughout the day by Supreme Ventures Sports Betting, through its JUSTBET brand, and several lucky spectators walked away with gift packages.
In commenting on the match, Carlene Edwards - Senior Corporate Communications Officer, Supreme Ventures, said: “It was a great way to kick off the Festival. We saw some great talent on display, particular from Andre Russell, and we feel that it’s a sign of great things to come for the remainder of the Festival. Both teams played some good, entertaining cricket. We are looking forward to the limited overs matches coming up, where we expect some more fireworks. With our ‘Win a Million’ promotion, plus the other games and promotions that we’ll have in store for fans at the matches, it promises to be a really great Festival for the rest of the remaining days, and that’s another reason for fans to come out and enjoy the fun!”
The JustBet “Win a Million” Promotion, which Edwards mentioned, is one in which patrons who purchase tickets to any of the remaining matches in the festival, from April 7 through to the end of the tournament on April 18 (which will be priced at $1,000 per day), stand a chance of winning a share of a one million dollar jackpot, simply by coming to the matches and showing their ticket at the gate.
On each of those match days (April 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 & 18), fans, when arriving at the matches, will be asked to fill out and submit an entry form, which will give them a chance of winning $50,000 on each of those match days, as well as grand prize of $600,000 at the final match on the 18th.
The Supreme Ventures Sports Betting Jamaica Cricket Festival, which also includes the West Indies and Canada, now moves to Kaiser Sports Club in Discovery Bay for two 50 over matches on April 7 and 8, before shifting to the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium for four Twenty20 encounters on April 10, 11. Sabina Park then takes centre stage on April 13, 15, 17 and 18, with two official One-day International and two more Twenty20 matches.
On January 26, 2010 Supreme Ventures Limited created history when avid sports loving Jamaican fans were able to place wagers on their favourite international sports, through the new fixed-odds sports betting game, JustBet. The two official One day Internationals in the festival (April 13 and 15 matches at Sabina Park, featuring the West Indies vs. Canada and the West Indies vs. Ireland), will be available for betting through JustBet, as will all matches in the ICC World Twenty20, which will of course feature two of the festival’s competing teams, West Indies and Ireland – who will interestingly enough, be competing in the same group at that Tournament, to be held from April 30 to May 16.
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