Kingston's Brian Latore pivots on the back foot and pulls to the onside while St. Elizabeth's Howard Powell takes evasive action during the Jamaica Cricket Association Super Cup match at Sabina Park yesterday. Latore scored 33. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Howard Walker, Staff Reporter

Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) scored an exciting win over Kensington, while Kingston, Melbourne, Manchester and St. Catherine Cricket Club grabbed first innings points as the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA)/Super Cup first-round games ended yesterday.

The JDF, the only victors of the round, jump to the lead on six points, ahead of Kingston, Melbourne, Manchester and St. Catherine C.C., all on three points.

The JDF, which started the day 130 runs in front, dismissed Kensington for 301 and needing 172 to win from 35 overs, they reached 172-5 with five balls remaining.

Horace Miller top scored with 63 in Kensington's second innings, while Wavell Hinds chipped in with 48. Akhdar Moodie bagged 5-56.

The JDF's successful run chase was set up by Bereston Reid's 52 and was anchored by Wayne Cuff with 24 not out.

At Chedwin Park: Jermaine Lawson ripped out the heart of Lucas, grabbing 5-14, and was well-supported by Andre Russell who took 5-28. Only West Indies player Chris Gayle with 56 offered any resistance in a paltry 102.

St. Catherine C.C. reached 170-3 with Keith Hibbert making 73 and Dean Morgan unbeaten on 63, as rain once again intervened.

At Kirvine: Manchester earned first innings points over Westmoreland in another rain-affected game. Westmoreland made 128 and 35-1, while Manchester replied with 189-6 with Donovan Sinclair making 58. Nickoy Samuels took 3-61 for Westmoreland.

AT MELBOURNE OVAL: Melbourne behind Marlon Samuels' 205 not out, piled up 456-7 and dismissed Trelawny for 204. They enforced the follow-on but Trelawny safely reached 98-3 in their second innings.

At Sabina Park: Home team Kingston restricted St. Elizabeth to 189 for a 68-run lead and opted for batting practice and reached 220-6 with Simon Jackson getting 66.

Howard Powell top scored for St. Elizabeth with 78 and was supported mainly by Chris Dyer's 37.

Twenty-year-old left arm pacer Kemar Richards ripped through the St. Elizabeth batting order, taking 5-51 for and impressed his coach, Terrence Corke.

"I think highly of him. He is one of the few who can curl the ball into the right-hand batsman and away from the left-hander," said Corke of the former Glenmuir student now attending the University of Technology.