Defending champions Kingston Cricket Club were one of four teams to secure spots in the semi-finals of the 2025 Michael Holding Senior Cup over the weekend.

Kingston continued their march to defend their title with a first innings victory over Melbourne Cricket Club at the Nelson Oval.

Kingston, after winning the toss and batting, posted an imposing 388 all out in 94.1 overs thanks to half centuries from Jevaughn Buchanan (79 off 106 balls), Romaine Morris (64 off 117 balls), Derval Green (55 off 65 balls) and Brad Barnes (51 off 89 balls).

Leg-spinner Matthew Comerie was the pick of the Melbourne bowlers with 6-111 from his 28 overs while off-spinner David Bird picked up 3-80 from 28 overs in support.

Melbourne were then restricted to 211 all out in 68.2 overs before play was called to an end on Sunday evening.

Bird completed a good all-round performance with 50 off 127 balls while Shalome Parnell made a 57-ball 46 including six fours and two sixes in support.

Patrick Harty did the bulk of the damage for Kingston with 6-57 from 24.2 overs while pacer Andre Bailey provided some good consistency with the new ball on his way to figures of 2-16 from six overs.

Kensington Cricket Club also made it through to the last four thanks to a first innings win over the Jamaica Defence Force at Kensington.

Kensington dismissed the soldiers for 234 in 62.1 overs after winning the toss and choosing to field first.

Opener Tevin Gilzene led the way with 59 off 97 balls while Deethmar Anderson (45), Kevin Daley (42 and Sheldon Cottrell (40*) also made solid contributions against three wicket hauls from the left arm spin bowling pair of captain Alex Hinds (3-35 off 11 overs) and Ryan Francis (3-38 off 10.1 overs).

Kensington then replied with 245 all out in 84.3 overs to take a slight 11-run first innings lead thanks to 104 off 190 balls from Denneil Griffith and 44 from Alex Hinds.

Gilzene and Daley took three wickets each with their off-spin while pacer Garnet Smith and left-arm wrist spinner Dennis Bulli shared the other four wickets.

Knowing they now needed an outright victory to advance, JDF came out attacking in their second innings, posting 126-5 in just 14.3 overs before declaring, leaving Kensington needing 115 to win outright.

Anderson and Cottrell led the way with 37 off 20 balls and 28* off 16 balls, respectively, while pacers Anthony Dackers (3-51) and Jamie Hay (2-60) took the wickets.

Kensington then lost three wickets on their way to 30 in 15 overs before play ended.

St. Catherine Cricket Club dominated St. Mary Cricket Association to book their spot in the last four at Jack’s River.

Captain Carlos Brown hit 149 off 167 balls as St. Catherine posted 276-7 in 58.3 overs before declaring after being put in to bat by St. Mary.

Pacers Jermaine Chisolm and Jevaughn Hinds combined for five wickets for the hosts.

St. Mary were then restricted to a paltry 62 all out in 18.1 overs in reply, led by a brilliant spell of 7-14 from 9.1 overs of left-arm spin from Jeavor Royal.

Captain Brown took the other three wickets while conceding just eight runs in four overs.

St. Catherine then reached 219-6 in 44.4 overs in their second innings before the game came to an end.

Trevaughn Williams starred with 89 off 111 balls while Akeem McLaren made 47 off 31 balls including five sixes.

Clarendon Cricket Association were the only team to get an outright win in the quarterfinals with an innings and 172-run win over Trelawny Cricket Association at Jamalco.

Clarendon dismissed Trelawny for 104 in 41.4 overs after winning the toss and bowling first.

Former West Indies pacer Krishmar Santokie took 4-24 from 14.4 overs to lead the effort while Mickel Silva and Teino Osbourne took three wickets, each, in support.

Clarendon, in reply, then made 339 all out in 67 overs thanks to 134 off 188 balls including 10 fours and six sixes from opener Randre Christie and 91 off 52 balls including 10 fours and five sixes from Anthony Brown.

Osburn Palmer picked up 4-62 from 14 overs while Howard Palmer and Kobie Henry took two wickets, each.

Trelawny, in their second innings, were then blown away for 63 in 27.4 overs. Javed Harmer was the only batsman to get to double figures with 22 as Mickel Silva picked up 4-24 in nine overs.