Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

The Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) limited-over championship showdown between Melbourne and Police will go ahead today at Sabina Park, this after Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) have decided to drop their 'Plan B' action.

Today's final, set to start at 9:30 a.m., was in doubt after the JDF protested the ruling of the JCA to award their tied semi-final match to Police.

When contacted yesterday, Major Radcliffe Daley, cricket officer at JDF, said we have decided to drop the case.

This move clears the way for a super showdown between Police, who have never won this title, and Melbourne, winners of this competition twice in four years.

Police have the season's biggest totals, 419-9 against Boys' Town, and 349-4 against Lucas in a quarter-final match, which produced several records.

Ordane Hutchinson scored an undefeated 221 in that match and along with Kemar Anderson, 86, added a record 313 for the fifth wicket, before dismissing Lucas for 129.

Bowlers did well

Against the JDF in the semi-finals last week, their bowlers did very well to dismiss the soldiers for 180, but their batting failed as they too were dismissed for the same score.

However, despite their exploits this season, with bat and ball, Melbourne are not one bit worried, as they are going for be playing in their third straight final, winning one against Manchester (2005) and losing to Kensington (2006), both at Chedwin Park.

Now it's the country's top cricket venue - Sabina Park - the venue where they beat Lucas in 2003, which even makes them less fearless of Police's threat.

Assistant coach/manager, Donald McNaughton, explains: "We are not intimidated by what they have done, we are just going out to play good cricket."

Ready for clash

Police's manager, Arthur Brown, said his team is ready for the clash, especially since they have not been in a final for a long time.

"The boys are looking forward to the game," he said.

"They (players) are elated and ready for the game," he added.

Melbourne will again be without West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, who has been suffering from an ankle injury he picked up during the Twenty20 World Cup.

Though Carlton Baugh is not 100 per cent fit, he is ready to lead the team.

"We have capable players, and we think we can go all the way," continued McNaughton, who added ,"that is our intention, and that's what we are going out there for."

Damion Henry, Baugh, Llewellyn Meggs, Damion Jacobs, and Andre McCarthy, who scored an unbeaten 225 last year against Kingston & St. Andrew, are expected to lead Melbourne's run chase.

Nikita Miller, fresh from England where he was playing league cricket, and Jacobs, both of whom shared seven wickets last week in their semi-final against Manchester, will once again lead the bowling attack.

McCarthy, Leon Bent and Meggs should play the supporting role.

On the other side, Police, with experienced players in Renford Pinnock Jr., Baldwin Virgo, Renford Bodie, Demetrius Francis, Hutchinson and Anderson, should provide the competitiveness the championship match requires.

Sheldon Cottrell and Anderson are the team's top bowlers and they should get support from Bodie.