Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

A shot-filled half-century from middle-order batsman Dean Williams guided Melbourne to a five-wicket win over Kingston in the second round of the Jamaica Twenty20 championship at Up Park Camp yesterday.

Williams slammed three sixes and five fours in making 55 and shared in a 100-run partnership with Nikita Miller, who made an unbeaten 42 as Melbourne, set a competitive 143 to win, achieved their target at 147 off 18.2 overs.

Earlier, Kingston posted 142 off the maximum overs with Aaron Johnson, 24, Lionel Morant, 23, and Garth Garvey, 21, getting most runs against left-arm spinner Chris Lamont, two for 20 and Tafari Williams, two for 27.

"It was an improved performance from us today in comparison to our first game on Saturday where we lost to the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), especially as it relates to our batting," said Melbourne's captain Miller.

"Credit to Williams and myself as when we came together with our team struggling at 37 for four, one or the two of us really needed to step up."

Improved batting

Victory put Melbourne one win away from qualifying for the quarter-finals of the championship, while Kingston, who lost to the JDF in their first game, were eliminated.

"We improved a bit today with our batting, but gave away too many extras in the field, which released the pressure on Melbourne," said Kingston's captain Simon Jackson.

"It is disappointing that we have been eliminated at the first round, but we still have one more game remaining and will be playing for pride."

Meanwhile, the venue's first match, between the JDF and Kingston and St Andrew CA, saw the former coming out on top by four wickets.

Kingston and St Andrew first made a modest 128 for seven, with Kerron Edwards top scoring with 26 against Akbar Moodie, three for 17.

In reply, the JDF made 132 for six, with Jermaine Harrison scoring 31 against Ashaun Plummer, two for 13.

In other results, Manchester, led by Jamie Merchant, three for seven, defeated Clarendon by 10 wickets, while St Elizabeth, with 43 from Alton Beckford and 42 from Shawn Findlay, beat St Catherine CA by eight wickets at Manley Horne Park.

Miguel Gordon scored the first hundred - an unbeaten 118 not out - to lead Lucas to an eight-wicket win over Police, while St Thomas got the better of Kensington by 77 runs at Elleston Road.

Boys' Town, thanks to Junior Ennis' 44, defeated Portmore by 43 runs, while G.C. Foster, with a three-wicket haul from Dwight Stewart and 58 from Kino-Paul Sailsman, recorded a shocking five-wicket win over defending champions St Catherine CC at Maxfield Park.

The matches between St Mary and St Ann and UTech and Mico and Jacks River ended in no-results due to rain, as did the St James versus Hanover and Westmoreland versus Trelawny match at Bog Centre in Westmoreland.