Akim Fraser, captain of reigning champions Kingston Cricket Club (CC), says the commanding opening-round victory over Boys’ Town CC in the Stewart’s Automotive-sponsored Michael Holding Senior Cup was the ideal way to launch their title defence.

Last weekend at Sabina Park, Kingston made 284-6 declared and restricted Boys’ Town to scores of 139 and 141 to record victory by an innings and four runs in the two-day encounter.

Fraser and 17-year-old left-hand batsman Nicoli McKenzie — younger brother of West Indies Test left-hander Kirk — guided Kingston with unbeaten knocks of 56 and 50, respectively, after they had slumped to 182-6. Kingston’s left-arm finger spinner Patrick Harty took seven wickets in the match, including 5-55 in the second innings.

“[Winning] does wonders for the confidence [of a team]. It was good to win in a comprehensive manner with a number of players unavailable due to national duties,” Fraser told the Jamaica Observer.

“Harty continued where he left off last season. And it was great to see young Nicoli McKenzie, who has played at the Under-15 and Under-17 levels for Jamaica, scoring his first Senior Cup half-century.”

The Senior Cup is set to continue this Saturday and Sunday with another full slate of matches.

One of the standout clashes scheduled is Kingston CC versus the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) at Up Park Camp, a repeat of last year’s final.

JDF were also dominant in the opening round, brushing aside St Thomas Cricket Association (CA) by an innings and 128 runs.

Jordon Allen led the batting for JDF with a hundred, while Tevin Gilzene and Ryan Harris struck half-centuries in their 388-6 declared. Gilzene took seven wickets in the match, highlighted by 5-19 in the second innings, as St Thomas CA were tumbled over for 141 and 119.

Though suffering a middle-order wobble against Boys’ Town, the Kingston captain said he isn’t worried, especially with a few national players — some of whom have West Indies senior team experience — set to feature against JDF.

“[There are] no real concerns over the batting; it was only the first outing of the season. We will be bolstered by the return of Kirk McKenzie, Brad Barnes and, possibly, Odean Smith and Brandon King,” Fraser said.

— Sanjay Myers