Dethroned two-day Super League champions, St Catherine Saints, claimed the inaugural Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Red Stripe Twenty20 Championship after recording a pulsating two-wicket win over Manchester Lions at Sabina Park.

In a final which attracted a fair-size gathering, St Catherine, led by pacers Wayne Morgan and Jermaine Lawson and leg-spinner Odean Brown, first restricted Manchester to a respectable 141-9 off their allotted 20 overs before replying with 142-8 in 19.1 overs.

Hard-hitting batsman and stand-in captain, Danza Hyatt, with a quick-fire 14-ball 28, which included two huge sixes, top-scored for the men from Old Harbour Road, while lower-order batsman Dean Morgan, with a 16-ball unbeaten 20 at the death, gave best support.

Left-arm spinner David Powell and left-arm pacer Krishmar Santokie ended as Manchester's top bowlers with 2-13 off four overs and 2-22 off 3.1 overs, respectively.

Always confident

"It's very pleasing to rebound after losing our two-day crown and congratulations must go towards the players. It was a total team effort," said Hyatt who, along with teammates, was flocked by celebrating fans after Odean Brown hit the winning run with five balls to spare.

"Credit must go out to Dean Morgan and Odean Brown, who held their nerves towards the end. Most Twenty20 games are generally close and this was no exception. We were losing wickets, but we were always confident we could pull it off," Hyatt added.

After being sent to bat Manchester, the reigning two-day champions, were hobbling at 96-4 off 13.1 overs before the rains came and gave them impetus.

They eventually reached their competitive total, thanks to a 31-ball 44 from captain Gary Graham, which included four big sixes, and a 29-ball 28 from Donovan Sinclair.

Wayne Morgan, bowling with accuracy at the end, claimed 2-21 off his allotted four overs, Odean Brown grabbed 2-22 off his maximum and Lawson grabbed 2-37.

Didn't make enough runs

"We didn't make enough runs. I felt we fell short by about 15 or 20 runs to begin with. But it's Twenty20 and the score we had could be (defended). We just bowled a bad 19th over and it cost us," said Graham.

"But congratulations to my guys, I thought we fought gallantly," he added.

St Catherine pocketed $500,000 for placing first, as well as the Red Stripe Championship trophy.

Manchester got $300,000 for the runners-up finish, while beaten semi-finalists Melbourne Kangaroos and Hanover Dolphins pocketed $100,000 each.

The teams will now turn their attention to the national one-day championship, which begins this weekend.