BY SANJAY MYERS

Observer staff reporter

ST James CA have the upper hand on neighbours Trelawny CA at the close of day one in the Jamaica Cricket Association two-day Senior Cup Zone A match at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium yesterday. Batting first, St James made 183 in their first innings with Chris Watson top-scoring 65 not out. Left-arm bowler Andrew Walker (5-33) led St James’ bowling in dismissing the home team for 80.

St James enforced the follow-on and Trelawny closed the day on 33-1 in their second innings.

Scores: St James 183; Trelawny 80 and 33-1.

In Zone C, hosts Police are on the verge of taking first-innings honours against Portland CA. At the close yesterday, Police were level with Portland’s first innings score of 209, but still have four wickets in hand.

Scores: Portland 209; Police 209-6.

Portland’s innings was based on a 63-run stand for the second wicket between opener Richard Hewitt (50) and number three Sheldon Crawford (33).

Hewitt’s top score was laced with six fours and a six.

Slow bowler Ordain Hutchinson took 3-55, while national pacer Brian Buchanan, off-break bowler Fitzgerald Anderson and medium pacer Gerald Laing, all took two wickets.

In Police’s battling reply, Laing has led the way so far with a fluent 86.

Also in Zone C, University of the West Indies and St Mary CA were locked in a low-scoring contest at the Mona Bowl.

Scores: St Mary 154; UWI 110-5.

UWI won the toss and sent in St Mary to take first strike as left-hander Domaine Wilson led the way with a cameo innings of 29.

Former national Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman Aldaine Thomas made only seven.

Spinner Horaine Linton ended with 4-54 off 18 overs, while Donovan Nelson and towering pacer James McDonald grabbed 2-18 and 2-29, respectively.

In the University institution’s reply left-handed batsman Paul Palmer has top-scored so far with 41 not out.

Also in Zone C, the Jamaica Defence Force held a slight advantage over hosts St Ann CA at the Noranda Bauxite Sports Complex in Discovery Bay.

JDF 263-9 declared; St Ann 50-2.

In Zone D, St Thomas CA and Lucas CC are in a keen tussle for first-innings advantage.

Scores: St Thomas 241-8 declared; Lucas 15-0.

In another Zone D encounter, national middle-order batsman Andre McCarthy struck 137 as Melbourne responded strongly to Boys’ Town’s modest first innings score of 139.

Scores: Boys’ Town 139; Melbourne 306-8.

It is McCarthy’s second century in as many games after reaching triple figures against St Thomas last weekend.

Play in all matches is set to commence at 10:00 am today.

The top two teams in each zone advance to the quarter-final stage.