JERMAINE LANNAMAN, STAR Writer

The Carlton Baugh Jr-led St Thomas CA will seek to cement a place in the quarter-finals of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Senior Cup when they play away to University of the West Indies (UWI) at the Sir Frank Worrell Oval, Mona, starting today.

St Thomas enter the top-of-the-table Zone E encounter in second position on nine points, one more than UWI.

"It is a very important game. We face a must-win situation if we are to qualify for the quarter-finals," said UWI captain, Paul Palmer Jr.

"We are playing good cricket at the moment, much better than our statistics are showing. so it is for us to just go out there and show our worth," he explained.

Batsman Palmer Jr, who has a century to his credit, is one of three regional first-class players in the UWI. The others are fast bowlers Christopher Powell and James McDonald.

Also doing well are former Jamaica youth players, batsman Krishna Graham, wicketkeeper Amanja Morris, and pacers Ravmon Powell and Omar Samuels.

Perennial strugglers St Thomas, who handed title contenders Melbourne a surprise defeat earlier, will be hoping for outstanding showings from their national players Baugh Jr, left-arm seamer Gavan Brown, and lanky pacer Keno Wallace.

"Given our performance against Melbourne where we showed character to come out on top, I think we are in a good position mentally to come away with a win," said St Thomas manager Keith Campbell.

The clash will be one of two in the zone today. The other sees fourth-place Kensington on eight points playing Lucas, with no points, at Kensington.

Other matches in the round have been postponed because of the funeral of former JCA vice-president Cleveland Keddo.

Keddo is a former president of the Westmoreland Cricket Association.