HALF-WAY-TREE Sparks pulled off a surprising nine-run win over Spanish Town Titans at Melbourne Cricket Club in yesterday’s opening round of the Jamaica Tourist Board-sponsored Premier League (JPL) Twenty20 (T20) tournament.

All-rounder Yannick Elliott struck an unbeaten 71 and captain Nikita Miller banged 43 in the Sparks’ score of 159-5 off 20 overs. Wayne Morgan was the Titans best bowler with 3-11.

In reply, the Spanish Town team was restricted to 150-5 despite Oraine Williams’ knock of 33. Rohan Williams and Damion Jacobs took two wickets each for the Sparks.

Scores: Half-Way-Tree Sparks 159-5 (20 overs); Spanish Town Titans 150-5 (20 overs)

In the second match at the venue, the mercurial batsman Xavier Marshall struck 104 not out off 72 balls to lead the Ocho Rios Chargers to a comfortable 56-run victory over Kingston Hurricanes.

Scores: Ocho Rios Chargers 180-3 (20 overs); Kingston Hurricanes 124 (15.2 overs)

At the Treasure Beach Sports Complex, the Mo-Bay Sixers eked out a four-wicket win over Mandeville Thunder.

Scores: Mandeville Thunder 104 (20 overs); Mo-Bay Sixers 108-6 (19.5 overs)

In the other match at the venue, national batsman Nkrumah Bonner slammed a 55-ball 86 in University Dynamites’ eight-wicket defeat of May Pen Earthquakes.

Scores: May Pen Earthquakes 115 (19.5 overs); University Dynamites 116-2 (15 overs)

The first round action will continue today with Spanish Town opposing Ocho Rios in the 9:30 am opener at Melbourne, while Kingston challenge Half-Way-Tree in the 1:30 pm feature.

At Treasure Beach, May Pen and the Mo-Bay Sixers will square off in the morning fixture, while Mandeville and the University Dynamites clash at 1:30 pm.

The teams are vying for the $700,000 top prize, with the runners-up set to pocket $500,000. The man-of-the-tournament will walk away with $50,000.