ST Catherine Cricket Club Head Coach Odean Brown praised the batting of national player Carlos Brown after his team brushed aside St Mary Cricket Association to advance to the semi-finals of the Senior Cup competition.

Carlos Brown, who made his senior Jamaica debut last month, made a century to power St Catherine to an innings- and 24-run win over visitors St Mary in the two-day quarter-final match at Chedwin Park.

Scores: St Mary 83 and 181; St Catherine 288.

“Carlos Brown played a fantastic innings; he anchored the innings with 101,” the coach told the Jamaica Observer after the victory.

“He [Carlos] is a very good batsman and a wonderful talent and I’m looking forward to seeing him feature even more for Jamaica.”

After winning the toss, St Catherine sent St Mary to take first strike. The move paid off as the visiting team was dismissed for 83 as off-spinner Peat Salmon claimed 4-18 and left-arm finger spinner Jeavor Royal took 3-12.

St Catherine responded with 288 as right-handed batsman Brown and Kennar Lewis (50) made merry, though Tyrone Daley took 3-26 for St Mary.

Batting a second time, St Mary fell short of forcing St Catherine to bat again as Trevaugn Williams top scored with 46. Royal finished with 3-31.

Coach Brown, the former national leg-spin bowler, noted it was a typically solid team effort.

“We did what we were supposed to do by restricting them to 80-something runs in the first innings. Then, our batters went out and demonstrated what we’ve been doing all season — dominating from ball one.

“Peat and Royal were good with the ball, and Mikhail Powell and Elvis O’Connor chipped in with the new ball so it made the work a little easier for the spinners — that’s what I’ve been asking for all season,” he explained.

In another quarter-final Damion Bryce struck a hundred in each innings as hosts St Ann CA secured first-innings honours in the drawn match against Westmoreland CA at Noranda Bauxite in Discovery Bay.

Scores: St Ann 312-8 declared and 220-8; Westmoreland 142.

Bryce made an even 100 and all-rounder Damani Sewell notched 85 as St Ann piled up 312-8 in their first innings. Javid Simpson grabbed 5-81 for Westmoreland.

Left-arm spinner Christopher Lamont, who had figures of 6-34, helped to restrict Westmoreland for under 150, with Andre Blake (45) and Okeeno Farquharson (33) offering most resistance.

Instead of trying to force an outright win St Ann opted for batting practice, given their semi-final spot was made safe when they took first-innings honours.

Bryce struck 101 not out and Sewell added 44 in their 220-8.

At Manley Horne Park hosts St Elizabeth eked out a three-wicket win over Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) despite an 11-wicket haul from veteran pacer Leighton Leslie.

Scores: JDF 114 and 233; St Elizabeth 63 and 288-7.

The soldiers batted first and were dismissed for 114 as Leslie top scored with 40. Romaine Nembhard (4-41) was St Elizabeth’s best bowler.

In reply St Elizabeth were bundled out for 63 as Leslie snared 7-34.

JDF set a challenging 284-run target after making 233 in their second innings. Andre Dennis made 58 against Lennox Simpson, who claimed 6-106.

But the home team pulled off the win as former St Elizabeth Technical schoolboy standout Andre McCarthy struck 104 and David Curtis made 79. Leslie was again a menace with the ball, taking 4-48.

In the other quarter-final at Nelson Oval in east Kingston, Kingston CC advanced after securing first-innings advantage in the drawn encounter versus The Mico University College.

Scores: Kingston 357 and 53-1; Mico 158.

Romaine Morris hit 120 while Javaughn Buchanan( 69) and Nicholas Nelson (56) added useful runs in Kingston’s commanding total. Chevonie Grant took 4-78 for Mico.

In reply, Mico were left with a 199-run first-innings deficit as national bowlers, left-arm spinner Patrick Harty (5-55) and off spinner Akim Fraser (2-17), combined for seven wickets.

Sitting in an unassailable position, Kingston reached 53-1 when the match was called off.

In the semi-finals, which are to both start on Saturday, St Catherine are set to face St Elizabeth and Kingston is scheduled to clash with St Ann.