KINGSTON College were held to a heart-felt yet exciting draw by Ardenne High in their ISSA Grace Shield, two-day, two-innings semi-final round game in section one last Thursday.

A game filled with all-round performances saw Kingston College taking first innings honours, but failed to complete the outright win, falling two runs short of the victory target when stumps were drawn.

Scores: Ardenne 121 and 98; KC 137 and 81-5.

Batting first, Ardenne High were bowled out for 121. William Thomas, 23 not out, and Giovanni HoSang, 23, were the best scorers for Ardenne, after Kevaun Bartley grabbed four for 26.

Kingston College in their first innings posted 137 to edge in front by 16 runs. Captain Obrian Duncan topscored with 41, followed by Romario Hanchard’s 22. HoSang led the bowling with four for 56, while William Thomas grabbed four for 53.

Mickayle Riley (47) fell three runs short of a half-century, in Ardenne’s second innings of 98 all out, which saw Bartley again leading the bowling with figures of four for 27, and Oshane Wright, three for 20.

The game could have gone either way, with Kingston College requiring 83 and Ardenne needing to take 10 wickets for an all-out victory, but the momentum swung in KC’s favour, but Ardenne would have none of it and restricted the North Street boys to 81 for five to share the points.

The other section one game saw Eltham High going on an onslaught to take first innings honours over Wolmer’s after their game ended in a stalemate.

Scores: Eltham 258 and 215-8; Wolmer’s 78.

Eltham High took first knock and with a fine batting display, piled up a decent total of 258. Ramone Francis led the way with 76, backed by Shane Cole, who made 46.

Suwayne Morrison, three for 39, and Malcolm Whyte, three for 62, carried the bowling attack.

Jevel Innis, three for 31, and Jerome Barton, three for 33, then restricted Wolmer’s to a paltry 78 in their first innings, which saw Hodane Bryce, 37, as the only batsman to offer any resistance.

With a lead of 181, Eltham then crippled the bowling attack once more and were 215 for eight when the game was called off.

Innis led the batting with a steady 40, while Ramone Ramsey was left unbeaten on 37. Denniel Griffiths bagged five for 57, and Malcolm Whyte, two for 29.

Jonathan Grant found the going tough when they slumped to an innings defeat at the hands of St Jago in their section two fixture.

Scores: Jonathan Grant 101 and 88; St Jago 192.

Jonathan Grant batting first were skittled for 101. Matthew Fowler, four for 19, and Nicholas Simpson, four for 19, led the bowling attack.

St Jago in their first innings went in front with a lead of 91 runs, after they got dismissed for 192. Sachin Taylor (35) was the topscorer, while Delroy grant bagged five for 44.

Jonathan Grant feared no better in their second innings, being bowled out for 88. Andre Fowler led the onslaught, taking four for 13, while Nicholas Simpson supported with four for 23.

The other section two game between Jamaica College and Excelsior failed to produce a winner, despite some useful all-round performances from both teams.

Scores: Jamaica College 190 and 138-8 declared; Excelsior 125 and 176-6.

Jamaica College made 190 all out after taking first strike. Akim Fraser, 44, and Courtney Dowdie, 38, were the top batsmen. Orande Pearson grabbed five for 48, supported by Denzil Dillion with three for 15.

Akim Fraser, four for 40, and Jason Tapper, four for 28, restricted Excelsior to 125 in their first innings chase. Adrian Clarke was left unbeaten on 28.

Jamaica College with a 65-run lead going into the second innings, added 138 for eight before declaring. Excelsior then replied with 176 for six when stumps were drawn.

Orande Pearson, 68, and Raewin Senior, 71, charted the course for the Mountain View-based team.

The semis continue today.

TODAY’S GAMES

Kingston College vs Wolmer’s

St Jago vs Excelsior

Eltham vs Ardenne

Jamaica College vs Jonathan Grant