University of the West Indies (UWI) and St Catherine Cricket Club (CC) have booked their spots in the final of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) All-island 50-over competition after comparable victories in their respective semi-final matches yesterday.

UWI, led by a five-wicket haul from seam-bowler Rovman Powell, defeated hosts Kensington CC by four wickets at the Kensigton Cricket Club, while St Catherine CC, who are the defending champions, easily blew away St James Cricket Association (CA) by eight wickets at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

Winning the toss and taking first strike on a flat, slow wicket, hosts Kensington CC found it very difficult to score runs as they were outdone by Powell’s accurate line and length, crumbling to 175 all out from 47.2 overs.

Powell, who took six wickets in last week’s quarter-final match against Kingston CC, finished with figures of five wickets for 31 runs from eight overs.

Only middle-order batsman Leroy Lugg put up some resistance for Kensington CC, smashing three fours and four sixes from 75 balls for his well-played 64 runs.

Chasing 176 for victory, the visiting UWI team raced to 176-6 from 44.3 overs. Chrishna Graham led the successful run-chase with a top score of 43 (74 balls), including only five boundaries. Javaughn Buchanan (25 not out), Nicholas Walters (25) and Paul Palmer (24) contributed to UWI’s victory.

David Bernard Jr (2-21) and Denniel Griffiths (2-24) were successful for Kensington CC with the ball.

Scores: Kensington CC 175 all out (47.2 overs); UWI 176-6 (44.3 overs).

At the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium, Jamaica’s discarded leg spinner Odean Brown took 4-17, and former national Captain Tamar Lambert claimed 3-13 as St James CA were dismissed for a miserable 71 from 22.4 overs.

In reply, Shacoya Thomas, 36 not out, and Lambert, 20 not out, then easily guided the defending champions to a comfortable victory of 72-2 from 17 overs.

Scores; St James CA 71 all out (22.4 overs); St Catherine CC 72-2 (17 overs).

–Ruddy Allen