WEST Indies pacer Andre Russell banged 137 for St Catherine yesterday as they are in a keen tussle for first-inning honours with Melbourne in their National Senior Cup Group D cricket championship game at Chedwin Park.

Home team St Catherine batted first and were dismissed for 245, with Russell being the mainstay, clobbering 16 fours and six sixes is a superb display of power hitting.

He was supported by Wayne Morgan, who got 41. West Indies spinner Nikita Miller took 5-71 and Dave Johnson, 2-44.

At close of the first day’s play, Melbourne trailed by 65 runs reaching 180-5 with Andre McCarthy 90 not out, alongside Tyrone Williams, 24 not out. Donovan Pagon made 37. Wayne Morgan has so far taken 4-26 for St Catherine.

Kingston look set to secure maximum points against Boys’ Town in Group D action after picking up first inning and a 91-run lead.

Boys’ Town won the toss and elected to bat and were quickly dismissed for 63 with Herbert Haye topscoring with 17. Paul Harrison bagged 5-10.

Kingston replied with 207-4 declared with Andrew Bryce making 86 and Robert Weir 76. In their second innings, Boys’ Town crawled to 53-4, still 91 runs behind and look certain to fall to yet another defeat.

At Kensington Park, home team Kensington gained first-inning lead over Lucas, reaching 185-5 and over hauling Lucas’ 182. Ranville Brown is on 90 not out, while Wavel Hinds made 23.

Earlier, Lucas were dismissed for 182 with Ordane Hartly topscoring with 34. Randy Carter took 4-58 for Kensington.

Meanwhile in Group B, Manchester have secured a lead of 134 over St Thomas, courtesy of a fine knock of 117 by Damion Bryce at the Good Year Oval.

St Thomas batted first and were dismissed for 208 with Oneil Wright left not out on 84 and Marvin Darlington contributing 69. Stevon Patterson took 3-45 and Ziggy Levy, 2-28.

Manchester then raced to 342 all out with Bryce pelting 117 and was supported by Oshane Walter with 67.

St Thomas’ Gavasker Brown grabbed 3-50 and Marvin Darlington 3-75. In their second innings, St Thomas reached 2-0.

In another Group B encounter, Clarendon hold the upperhand over GC Foster after making 219 with GC Foster toiling at 99-5.

Clarendon won the toss and elected to bat and only two half-centuries by Wayne Davis 53 and Kirk Karris 50 took the total to 219. Joseph Lemmie snared 5-67 and Dwight Stewart, 3-31.

In reply, GC Foster closed on 99-5 with Kirk Brooks topscoring with 48. Marvin Parchment has so far taken 2-30 and Errol Thomas, 2-48.

In Group A, St Elizabeth recored an easy innings and 25-run win over Trelawny at the TMPS field. St Elizabeth won the toss and asked Trelawny to bat and they were routed for a paultry 47, with Carlington Johnson topscoring with 11 not out. Howard Powell took 6-24 and Linton Buchanan, 3-6.

St Elizabeth then raced to 183-7 declared with Davion Davisdon making 80. Kemar Allen took 5-72 for Trelawny in their only bright spark of the game.

Trelawny were dismissed a second time for 111 with Vinroy Dell making 43. Howard Powell grabbed 5-49 to finish with 11-73.