Former champions Kingston College (KC), Excelsior High and St Catherine High secured the last three available semi-final spots from division one of the ISSA urban area Grace Shield cricket competition, fter recording favourable results during Tuesday's final set of preliminary-round games.

KC, who needed a draw against minnows Tarrant to qualify from Group A, easily booked their place following an impressive 153-run win at Elletson Road.

Excelsior defeated Group B rivals Spanish Town by 93 runs at Mountain View Avenue, while St Catherine qualified after recording a draw against St Jago at Monk Street.

Other semi-finalists

The trio joined defending champions Eltham, Waterford and newcomers Innswood as qualifiers for the eight-team semi-finals, which will be played over two days and two innings beginning February 20.

The other two semi-finalists will come from division two ('A' League) and will be decided this weekend after the playing of the two-day (two innings) semi-finals.

At Elletson Road, KC batted first and thanks to a century (101) from national Under-19 and senior team invitee, leg-spinner Akeem Dewar, batting at number three, Chris Harrison 71 and Ajani Burton 50, posted 265-3 declared. Tarrant were then skittled out for 112. Dewar and Harrison returned to take three wickets each.

Meanwhile, Excelsior, needing at least a draw at home against Spanish Town to make the cut, posted 191 with Andre McDonald making 73 and Phillip Biggs, 64. Spanish Town, in reply, were restricted to 98 with national Under-17 representative Ramon Senior claiming 7-23 with his off-breaks.

Game of significance

Elsewhere, at Monk Street, St Catherine, also needing a draw to secure their berth, made 205 all out with national Under-15 and Under-17 representative Coi Thompson getting 105 not out and Jermaine Ennis, 46. St Jago reached 164-3 when stumps were drawn with national Under-19 representative Garth Garvey making 45.

In the other game of significance on the day, Jonathan Grant, needing to win to put pressure on KC, lost to Jamaica College (JC) by 54 runs. Batting first, JC were bowled out for 139 with Adrian Morris getting 38 and Mario Downer, 28 against Domain Wright 7-34. Jonathan Grant in reply were then dismissed for 85 with pacers James McDonald, Lushane South, Travis Reid, and spinner Carlisle Moxam all claiming two wickets each.