OUT-OF-favour Jamaican batsman Donovan Pagon struck a brilliant 95 to lead Melbourne to a comfortable 88-run win over Lucas in the feature game of yesterday's opening round of the JCA All-Island limited overs competition. The former Wolmerian, who struggled to find a place in Jamaica's team in the just-concluded regional season, struck five fours and an uncharacteristic four sixes to lead his team to 248 and, in reply, Lucas were bundled out for 160.
Former young West Indies batsman Andre McCarthy, 31 (five fours), who shared in an invaluable 65-run fourth wicket partnership with Pagon, was Melbourne's next best batsman, while Ramon Hutchinson, 28, and Sheldon Smith, 23, also provided support.
Bowling for Lucas, pacer Markan Guy, 3-44, and left-arm spinner Ransford Merchant, 3-38, took the most wickets.
JDF win
In other results, Kensington and the JDF recorded wins over St Thomas and Boys' Town to join Melbourne at the top of Group D.
Kingston and St. Catherine claimed victories over St Mary and Kingston and St. Andrew to sit atop Group C; St Ann and St. Catherine Parish registered exciting wins over Manchester and GC Foster for sole leadership of Group B, while over in Group A, Hanover and St Elizabeth share the lead after triumphs over Trelawny and Westmoreland.
At Elgin Town: Hanover defeated Trelawny by eight wickets. Scores: Trelawny 63 (Richard Satcheron 6-21), Hanover 64-2.
At Alpart: St Elizabeth defeated Westmoreland by 19 runs. Scores: St Elizabeth 109 (Ewan Andrews 3-15, Nichoy Samuels 2-12), Westmoreland 90 (Samuels 35; Ainsley Goss 3-16, Wayne Simpson 2-22).
At Kirkvine: St Ann defeated Manchester by eight wickets. Scores: Manchester 80 (Stevon Patterson 32 not out, Ricardo Dacres 5-13, Andre Clarke 2-8), St Ann 82-2 (Marlon Johnson 48 not out).
At Port Esquivel: St Catherine CA defeated GC Foster College by six wickets. Scores: GC Foster 102 (Erron Downer 4-43, Gerald Morgan 4-22), St Catherine CA 104-4 (Peter Pottinger 41).
At Chedwin Park: St Catherine CC defeated Portland by 148 runs. Scores: St Catherine CC 285-5 (Junior Stewart 108, Keith Hibbert 37, Tamar Lambert 29; Ian McLeod 4-61), St Mary 137 (Dervin Morant 42; Bevon Brown 4-31, Aaron Daley Jr 4-39, Andre Russell 2-33).
At Maxfield Park: Kingston defeated Kingston and St Andrew by five wickets. Scores: Kingston and St Andrew 140 (Damion Foster 40, Oshane Baugh 26; Jowayne Robinson 3-35, Frederick Hermitt 3-16, Kerry Scott 2-25), Kingston 146-5 (Shane Ricketts 76 not out, Nehemiah Perry 39).
At Kensington: The hosts defeated St Thomas by seven runs. Scores: Kensington 114 (Ranville Brown 25, Marvin Darlington 3-19, Omar Brooks 2-29), St Thomas 107 (Oneil Wright 23, Haniff Palmer 4-11, Randy Carter 2-10, Akeem Dewar 2-19).
At Collie Smith Drive: The JDF defeated Boys' Town by three wickets. Scores: Boys Town 90 (Runarko Smith 36, Akbar Moodie 3-19, Wayne Cuff 2-22), The JDF 94-7 (Joseph Palmer 22, Smith 3-37).
The Portland versus Police match-up at Folly Oval ended in a no result with the game being abandoned due to a water-logged outfield.
