- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
Melbourne wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh (left) takes the ball as St. James' number three batsman Abdel Ainsley swings and misses during their Capital and Credit limited-overs match at Melbourne yesterday. Melbourne won the match by four wickets.

Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter

DESPITE ALREADY having secured a quarter-final berth in the Capital & Credit limited-overs cricket competition, defending champions Melbourne had to battle to secure maximum points from the competition's preliminary round as they narrowly escaped with a four-run win over St. James at the Melbourne Oval yesterday.

Melbourne, who along with Kensington, the JDF, St. Catherine CC, Westmoreland, Police, St. Elizabeth and Kingston have secured spots in the final eight, began the day on an unassailable 16 points and thanks to the win now close out Zone D on 20. A win for St. James could have seen them wrap up the second-place spot and sent in to bat first they made 163 all out after 41.5 overs.

Leaders

Omar Roman led the way for the westerners with 43 runs, while Larry Cunningham made 32. Sheldon Smith spearheaded the Melbourne bowling attack and ended with figures of 4-30.

However, in response, Melbourne, led by 40 from wicketkeeper batsman Carlton Baugh Jnr, found themselves in trouble when they were reduced to 160 for eight.

St. James' loss saw Kensington, who now move to nine points courtesy of a win over Kingston and St. Andrew, wrap up second spot in that group.

Kensington bowled out Kingston and St. Andrew for a mere 71 after just 20 overs and in response lost only one wicket with David Bernard Jnr. top scoring with 34 and Ranville Brown making 23 not out.

Zone C leaders St. Catherine CC also closed out the preliminary round in fine style with a seven-wicket win over Boys' Town, moving them to 20 points. St. Catherine dismissed Boys' Town for 55 with Odean Brown grabbing 5-19 and Dean Morgan 3-13 and then easily reached the target at 56-3. Jermaine Lawson made 21, while Morgan was also handy with the bat, top scoring with 26.

The match between St. Catherine Parish on five points and Portland on six, scheduled for the Folly Oval, had to be called off due to rain. Kingston were the second team to qualify from the group as their match against St. Thomas was also rained out at the Goodyear Oval. Kingston moved to 10 points while Portland advanced to seven.

Teams advancing

Police and St. Elizabeth will be the teams to advance from a very tight Zone B following a seven-wicket win over Hanover for the Police team. The lawmen bowled out Hanover for 109 after 32.1 overs and then posted 110-3 in reply. Ricardo Howe top scored for the Police team with an impressive knock of 72 not out.

Manchester, who now have five points, were forced to share points with bottom placed Lucas as rain intervened after 46.3 overs. Manchester were 231-8.

In Zone A, it was Westmoreland who joined the JDF on nine points to progress from the group. Westmoreland, who began the day on five points along with Trelawny, bowled the home team out for 161 in 45.1 overs, before posting 163-4 in 42 overs. Nyron Wilson slammed 80 runs in the Westmoreland victory.