DEFENDING all-island champions Melbourne CC lost to rivals Kingston CC by 104 runs at Sabina Park in last weekend’s opening round of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Junior Cup Championship.

Batting first, the home team made 241-5 off the allotted 50 overs thanks to Javaughn Buchanan’s unbeaten 80 and Romeo Parker, who was dismissed for the same score.

Kevin Pinto was the top bowler for Melbourne with 2-18.

In reply, Melbourne could only manage 137 all out against schoolboy Abijai Mansingh, who took 4-1. Lloyd Gould (53) and Garfield Moore (41) were the main scorers for the visitors.

Scores: Kingston CC 241-5 (50 overs); Melbourne 137 (26.1 overs)

At Chedwin Park, left-arm spinner Stephan Casey took 5-15 to help St Catherine CC to an easy eight wicket win over the visiting Jamaica Defence Force team.

Scores: Jamaica Defence Force 61 (34 overs); St Catherine 62-2 (12 overs)

Kensington CC turned back Kingston & St Andrew CA by a 71-run margin at Maxfield Park.

Kensington 179-7 (50 overs); Kingston & St Andrew 108 (34.4 overs)

Paul Palmer and Sheldon Samuels stroked respective centuries as University of the West Indies travelled to Manley Horne Park to defeat St Elizabeth by 153 runs.

Scores: UWI 301-5 (50 overs); St Elizabeth CA 148 (33.4 overs)

The competition is scheduled to continue tomorrow with a full slate of matches, starting at 10:00 am.