St Catherine, Kingston, St Elizabeth, St Ann to contest Senior Cup semis

The final four teams in this year’s Jamaica Cricket Association two-day Senior Cup cricket competition were decided on Sunday following quarterfinal action across the island.

Over at Chedwin Park, hosts St Catherine CC brushed aside St Mary Cricket Association by an innings and 24 runs to book their place in the semis.

The Saints, who resumed on 288 for nine, failed to add to their overnight score as Milton Mills bowled Elvis O’Connor for three to wrap up the innings.

With a 205-run lead, St Mary faired better in their second time at the crease as they managed to get to 181 for nine as Jevaughn Hinds did not bat.

Left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal was the chief destroyer for the Saints by bagging three wickets for 31 runs from his seven overs, with Michail Powell and Andre Henry bagging two wickets each.

Wicket-keeper Trevaughn Williams top-scored for St Mary with 46.

Over at the Noranda bauxite ground, hosts St Ann did the business against the visiting Westmoreland side by securing first-innings honours in their drawn game.

Westmoreland, who resumed on the final day on 60 for seven, were dismissed for 142, replying to 312 for eight posted by St Ann.

Christopher Lamont finished with six wickets for 34 runs while Orlando Royes took two wickets for 23 runs against Andre Blake, who top-scored with 45.

Batting a second time, St Ann reached 220 for eight, with Damion Bryce going on to score his second century of the match when he made an unbeaten 101 from 110 balls. Bryce hit 16 fours and three sixes to go along with his unbeaten even century in St Ann’s first innings.

In another dramatic quarterfinal encounter, hosts St Elizabeth turned around their fortunes to defeat the Jamaica Defence Force by three wickets to advance to the final four.

St Elizabeth, who made only 63 in their first innings, came back to post 288 for seven and chased down the winning target of 284 runs set by the army men.

Andre McCarthy was the hero on the day for St Elizabeth as he hit 104 to go with David Curtis’ 79. Leighton Leslie bagged another four wickets to add to his seven in the first innings to finish the match with 11 wickets for the army men.

Earlier, the soldiers, who resumed on 34 without loss in their second innings, were bowled out for 233 with Andre Dennis top-scoring with 58 against six wickets for Lennox Simpson.

Over at Lucas, Kingston CC secured first-innings honours over Mico University with the Tigers going on to post 357 all out after resuming on 247 for two. Nicholas Nelson made 56 to go along with Romaine Morris’ 120 as Chevonie Grant took four wickets for 78 runs and Brandon English three wickets for 53 runs.

In reply, Mico was dismissed for 158 with national spinner Patrick Harty bagging five wickets for 55 runs and captain Akim Fraser two for 17. Kingston reached 53 for one at stumps in their second innings.