Innswood, STETHS in close battle
INNSWOOD High and defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) are locked in a fierce battle to decide the holders of the 2011 ISSA/Grace All-Island Spalding Cup after the ‘home’ team closed yesterday on 150-6 chasing 227 for victory at Chedwin Park in St Catherine.
Scores: STETHS 127 and 162; Innswood 63 and 150-6.
Innswood’s openers Terrence Brown and captain Oraine Williams have been the main scorers so far with 39 and 37, respectively, while Marshall March contributed 31.
STETHS’ frontline off-spinner Horane Linton has snared 3-32 off 12 overs, while fellow slow-bowler Rasseei Spencer has supported with 2-36.
Today’s third and final day is scheduled to commence at 10:00 am.
Resuming their first innings yesterday on 48-6, Innswood High were quickly brushed aside for 63 as the lower order wilted against STETHS’ lively pacer Omar Samuels.
The National Youth player added three wickets in the morning to end with remarkable figures of 8-27 off 11.
Leading by 64 runs after scoring 127 on Monday’s opening day, the Santa Cruz-based STETHS stumbled to lunch at 70-7 in their second innings with premier batsmen Vaneil Bromfield (27) and Paul Palmer Jr (11) both dismissed by off-spinner Peat Salmon.
Salmon, who was once no-balled for throwing by square-leg umpire Edsel Mitchell late in his spell, had Palmer Jr caught at slip by March off an awkwardly bouncing delivery, before Bromfield pulled aerially to Pusey in the on-side.
After the break, a crucial ninth-wicket stand of 65 between Samuels (44) and Spencer (27) then ensued as Innswood’s charge was superbly countered by aggressive batting from the pair, before the innings was wrapped up for 162.
Left-arm orthodox spinner Stephan Casey took 4-25, while Salmon took 4-50.
Needing 227 to avenge their loss against STETHS last season, Innswood’s Williams and promising wicketkeeper/batsman Brown started brightly on a batting surface which produced inconsistent bounce and pace throughout the day.
Both effectively repelled the threat of Samuels, who was a shadow of the bowler who tore through the top order under overcast conditions on the previous afternoon. Samuels ended the day wicketless.
The opening duo shared in a stand of 70 to put Innswood in a strong position, but the departure of both preceded a batting collapse that culminated in the loss of Jermaine Bennett (two) off the last ball of the day. Shane Pusey is unbeaten on 29.
