St Ann's Shane Powell pulls the ball to the boundary, as the Jamaica Defence Force wicketkeeper, Mel Wint, takes evasive action in the Senior Cup final at Chedwin Park yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn

Despite surrendering first innings to the JDF, St Ann staged an impressive second day rally to wrest the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup from the clutches of the army men at Chedwin Park yesterday.

Led by figures of 7-95 from national Under-19 leg-spinner Patrick Harty, and a masterful 107 from former national batsman Shane Powell on yesterday's final day, the men from northern Jamaica came roaring back to win, and with it gain promotion to next year's semi-pro Super League.

first innings

In what was one of the closest Senior Cup finals in years, the JDF gained the ascendancy after claiming first innings by two runs. Batting first, the JDF made 110 with veteran Wayne Cuff making 23 against the deft spin of Harty, who was named to Jamaica's Under-19 fourteen-man squad early last week.

St Ann, in reply, despite 32 from Powell, could only muster 108, with off-spinner Akbar Moodie claiming 5-14.

With first innings honours in the bag and their slim lead, the JDF, who resumed the second day at 52-2, however, faltered somewhat in yesterday's morning session and posted 250 with Damion Gray smashing an even 100, and the in-form Joseph Palmer, 57, against Harty and former national left-arm wrist spinner Andre Dwyer.

With a victory target of 253 off 55 overs in just under two sessions, St Ann, marshalled by the hard-hitting Powell, and Marlon Pinnok, 42, then achieved their target with three overs to spare in fading light.

"It feels great to be champions. We have worked so hard for this for the past three years. In 2007, we won but there was no promotion that year and last year we were beaten in the semi-finals," said St Ann coach Cleon Smith.

"We lost some of our key players this season, namely Xavier Marshall to West Indies duties, but were always confident we could win and kept fighting until the end," he added.

JDF's coach, Staff Sergeant Steve Wallace, was at a loss for words, disappointed his team failed to put away the match.

"The feeling is not very good. We played bad cricket on both days. We had the chance to bat and take the game away from St Ann and failed. We are now eyeing the play-off as we would not feel comfortable playing the Senior Cup again," said JDF coach, Staff Sergeant Steve Wallace.

The JDF will play Super League seventh-place finishers Westmoreland Wizards for a place in next year's semi-pro league.