DEFENDING champions Eltham High and Innswood made easy progress in the ISSA/JIIC KO competition yesterday.

Innswood advanced to the quarter-finals without a ball being bowled due to an underprepared wicket at hosts St Jago.

This sets up a mouthwatering clash with St Catherine High, who trounced beaten “A” League finalists Tarrant by 131 runs at Tarrant.

Strong batting by Amanja Morris (54), Raphael Taylor (48), Jermaine Innis (41) and Coi Thompson (37) propelled St Catherine to 237-7 from 40 overs.

Akeem McCalla (4-23) and Odean McKenzie (2-37) were economical for Tarrant, but it was in their batting that the hosts were really outclassed.

Except for opener Ryan Edwards, who stroked an unbeaten 59, the batting crumbled for 106 in 25.2 overs against left-arm orthodox spinners Rushane Smith, 4-11 from 4.2 overs, and Thompson, 2-17 from five. Off-spinner Innis took 2-21 from six overs.

A fine century of 112 by captain Kino-Paul Salesman guided defending champions Eltham to a 74-run win over Excelsior at Courtney Walsh Oval.

Etham first amassed 256-9 with support from Joseph Dennie, 36.

National Youth player Ramon Senior bagged 4-44 before topscoring with 40 as Excelsior made 182 all out in 48.1 overs.

At Red Hills Road, Calabar stunned Grace Shiled semi-finalists Wolmer’s Boys’ by 70 runs and will play Eltham in the quarters.

The hosts first made 224 all out in 38 overs with Brandon Henry getting 45 against Delbert Gayle, 4-29, and Jordane Hunter, 3-26.

Cory Richmond stroked an even half-century, but Wolmer’s crumbled for 154 in 37.2 overs against Adrian Riley, 2-18, and Hilary Wray, 2-35.