Back-to-back reigning champions St Catherine CC and unbeaten Kingston CC will contest the final of the Jamaica Cricket Association, all-island limited overs competition after both registered wins in yesterday’s semi-finals.

The final is set for Chedwin Park on Saturday, February 4.

At the Chedwin Park venue yesterday, St Catherine CC, powered by Shacaya Thomas and Andre Russell, beat Melbourne CC by five wickets.

Scores: Melbourne 200-9 (50 overs); St Catherine CC 202-5 (38.2 overs).

In the other game at Kensington Park, the Kingston team, the designated hosts on the day, defeated Kensington CC by 61 runs.

Scores: Kingston 233 (49.1 overs); Kensington 172 (43.4 overs).

The encounter at Chedwin Park promised to be a good one, and though it turned out to be a fairly comfortable win for the hosts, it was not short on entertainment.

Melbourne won the toss and batted first, but they were restricted to a disappointing 200-9 on a good batting pitch.

Opener Tareque Whyte top-scored with 59, while wicketkeeper/batsman Nepaul Watson struck 40 not out.

Left-hand opener Trevon Griffith, who made 237 in last week’s quarter-final, was dismissed for only 12.

West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, awaiting a verdict in a case currently before the Independent Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel, was excellent with the ball, taking 3-13 off 10 overs of accurate fast bowling.

Pacer Brian Buchanan snared 2-28 off six overs, while left-arm spinner grabbed Stephan Casey 2-36 off 10.

A 79-run, first-wicket stand between between Shacaya Thomas, who was very mature and composed in scoring 64 not out, and his free-scoring opening partner Oraine Williams (44), laid the platform for St Catherine CC, securing their third-straight trip to the championship match.

But there was a middle order wobble as the home lost a flurry of wickets.

Russell, dropped on five off the bowling of part-time spinner Sadiki Bolt, added a run before in the very next over — he went for a big hit down the ground and was caught just inside the long-on rope by Whyte off left-arm finger spinner Christopher Lamont.

The celebration from the Melbourne bowler and some of his teammates was clear indication of what the wicket meant to them.

But Shacaya Thomas kept the St Catherine train rolling.

A crunching off-drive on-the-up from the robust-built batsman to a delivery from Jamaica Scorpions teammate Oshane Thomas’s delivery brought him a boundary and took him past 50.

Big-hitting Andre Henry contributed 30 not out.

Lamont took 2-14 off 10 overs for Melbourne.

In the other semi-final, Kingston batted first and made 233 before being bowled out inside the final over of the innings.

Aaron Johnson made 78 off 106 balls, which included half dozen boundaries and four sixes. Lionel Morant supported with 56, while Kirk Harris chipped in with 38.

Pacer Nicholson Gordon and off-spinner Shamar Anderson were the major wicket-takers for Kensington. Gordon took 4-46 off 10 overs, while Anderson took 3-34 off eight overs and one ball. Paceman Jason Dawes grabbed 2-34.

In reply, Kensington battled valiantly to overhaul the target but were eventually stifled.

Delbert Gayle and Leroy Lugg were both dismissed for 39, while out-of-favour national player David Bernard made 38.

Kingston’s spinner Patrick Harty starred with 6-41 off nine overs and four balls.

Medium pacer Derval Green took 2-16.