Off-spinner and captain, Paul Brown, led from the front at Up Park Camp yesterday as he returned match figures of eight for 34 to give the soldiers a 10 wicket win over Police as their second round Rothmans National League match ended.

Brown, who picked up three wickets for nine runs off eight over in the losers’ first innings, came back in their second to take five for 25 from 15.4 over.

Final scores:  Jamaica Defence Force 223 and 22 without loss.   Police 119 and 123 all out.   Police resumed at 22 without loss but after six more runs were added, Howard Copeland started the wreck as he bowled Kevin Dodd out at 51.   Pacer Warren Medwinter (three for 35 off 15 overs) had Dillon Ebanks "snicking" and wicketkeeper Steve Wallace accepted this first of three catches.

Skipper Dixieth Palmer (38) made an effort to steady the Police innings, but after he batted for 70 minutes in which time he struck five fours from the 52 deliveries he received, Medwinter had him caught by Paul Brown.   Left-arm medium pacer, Luke Williams (three for 18 from nine overs), got the ball to move in the breeze as they were 97 for eight at lunch.

Shortly after lunch, Brown got Rohan Belight playing back to hit his wicket and trap Geoff Dixon lbw as the losers followed on 104 runs behind.   It was a disastrous second innings start by Police as Medwinter had Dixieth Palmer caught at slip by Marlon Kennedy without a run on the board.

The pair of Kevin Dodd (19) and Alton Williams (22) took the score slowly to 38.   The Soldiers fell short of pace bowling then, as Medwinter had to leave the field with a back injury after sending down four overs, then resorted to the spin of their skipper and the medium-pace bowling of Anthony Folkes (two for 18 off seven overs).   They quickly reduced Police to 76 for eight.   Dillon Ebanks (39) then held up time for 70 minutes as he took most of the strike while batting with Geoff Dixon.

Ernel Smith (the seventh bowler used) then bowled Ebanks at 122 and run later, Dixon failed to beat and accurate throw from Marlon Kennedy but their efforts forced the Soldiers to bat a second time for their 20 runs which were required for victory.