UWI, Kingston in Senior Cup semis

Emerging Jamaica all-rounder Rovman Powell led the University of The West Indies (UWI) to a first-innings victory over Kensington in quarter-final action of the Jamaica Cricket Association Senior Cup at the Sir Frank Worrell Oval yesterday.

The 22-year-old Powell, who played one match for Jamaica in the recently concluded WICB First-Class Championship and was surprisingly drafted by Jamaica Tallawahs for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League, scored 80 before returning to claim four for 20 in the drawn affair.

In another quarter-final match yesterday, Kingston, with half-centuries from all-rounder Derval Green and Brandon King, and four

wickets from left-arm spinner Patrick Harty, got the better of St Catherine CC at Chedwin Park.

At the Sir Frank Worrell Oval, the UWI first made 250 with Powell getting support from Javaughn Buchanan, 49, and Mark Parchment, 33.

OUTSTANDING BOWLERS

Off-spinner Shamar Anderson, four for 59, fast bowler Nicholson Gordon, three for 23, and left-arm spinner, Ryan Francis two for 56, claimed most wickets.

Kensington, in reply, were bowled out for 137 thanks to Powell and Horace Linton, who took four for 37. Anderson 23, David Bernard Jr, 21 not out, and Horace Miller, 20, made most runs.

Batting a second time, the UWI closed on 105 for three with Jamaica captain Paul Palmer Jr, ending on 32 not out, and Powell, 18, not out.

"It was a good result, one that we wanted and needed," said UWI coach, Robert Samuels. "On day one, I thought we batted well under trying circumstances given the Kensington bowling attack.

"They were then 60-odd for three overnight, and we returned bowled well and got the job done. Credit must also be given to Powell and the way he played."

At Chedwin Park, Green hit 86, King 50 and Aaron Johnson gathered 38 in Kingston's first innings total of 244. Odean Brown, three for 58, and Stephan Casey, three for 54, and fast bowler, Brian Buchanan, three for 59, were the top wicket takers.

St Catherine were dismissed for 99 with Harty four for 24, and fellow left-armer Paul Harrison, three for 13, claiming most victims. Mariano Dixon made a topscore of 40 with former national captain Tamar Lambert making 10 and Danza Hyatt, four.

The UWI and Kingston have now joined Melbourne and St Thomas in the semi-finals, which are scheduled to be played next weekend.