Innswood High are the 2010 ISSA/Grace Shield Premier League cricket champions after a massive 232-run victory over 2009 winners Eltham High at the Melbourne Oval yesterday.

Chasing an improbable target of 397, Eltham resumed from their overnight four for one, but lost wickets regularly before folding for a disappointing 164 during the post-lunch session.

Over the first two days of the match, Innswood had made 198 and 322, while Eltham made 124 in their first innings.

Innswood’s offspinning allrounder Peat Salmon was again too slippery to handle for the opposition batsmen as he ended with three for 41 from 23 overs, while fellow spinner Marshall March took two for 32 and pacer Michail Powell snatched two for 36. Dennie was again Eltham’s topscorer with 27, while Osani Ricketts made 26 and Jevon Innis chipped in with 25.

After Eltham scrambled in the morning session to 51 for four, captain Kino Paul Sailsman joined Dennie to provide the last glimmer of hope. Both batted with aggressive intent before the latter drove Salmon powerfully in the hands of mid-off with the score on 89.

A dream of a sixth successive title for Eltham was effectively over when Sailsman went leg before wicket soon after, also to the bowling of Salmon for 23 runs. Interestingly, the spinner had also accounted for the two batsmen in Eltham’s first innings.

Ricketts and Innis took the score to 107 for six at lunch and continued to delay the inevitable with a 51-run partnership for the seventh wicket before both were sent back in quick order. The other wickets fell soon after to send the Innswood supporters into jubilant celebrations. Eltham had beaten their parish rivals in both the Grace Shield and knock-out finals last year.

Innswood’s coach Kirk Gordon emphasised that an improved showing in their second turn of batting effectively separated the teams.

“We didn’t bat too well in the first innings, but we talked at length and the boys came out and the batters occupied the crease in the second innings. The overall total made the difference. With a lead of 396, it was always going to be difficult for Eltham batting last,” he told the Sporting World.

Gordon also paid tribute to his bowlers for restricting Eltham to sub-par scores in both innings of the match.

“Just like it had been all season, the bowlers got the job done for us. Michail Powell was particularly good with the breakthrough late yesterday (Thursday) and then he gave us one early (on Friday). They have been consistent and Adrian Cohen also did well with his left-arm pace,” he said.

Sailsman admitted that the game was over as a contest once the senior batsmen failed to get a big partnership together.

“This (Friday) morning we came to take back the advantage and build but we lost an early wicket. Then Dennie and I and the other senior batsmen didn’t contribute and bat long enough. That would have been crucial,” he said.

Added Sailsman: “The first innings score made a difference as well; we were hoping to get close to the (198) score, but it didn’t go our way. I also think the bowlers could have done better in both innings,” he said.