SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) cricket coach Clive Ledgister is a hard man to please, but right now he is feeling good.

Not only has he overseen yet another triumph for STETHS in the all-rural ISSA/Grace Headley Cup, but he has also witnessed the first class debut of the school’s cricket captain, 18-year-old all-rounder Ramaal Lewis.

Last Friday Lewis, who is also the Jamaica and West Indies Under-19 captain, made his debut for Jamaica against Barbados in the regional four-day professional cricket tournament.

Lewis underlined his claim for entrance to first class cricket on the basis of dominant performances with bat and ball against Vere Technical High and Munro College in the recent semi-final and final of the Headley Cup.

He scored back-to-back centuries as STETHS completely dominated the two games. And in the final against Munro at Treasure Beach, Lewis — twirling his off-breaks — ended with 11 wickets in the match.

Ledgister described Lewis’ progress as very satisfactory. “As a coach, this is something I am always working for and aiming to achieve, to guide a player right through to representing his country at the senior level,” said Ledgister.

“For Ramaal, who is still in school, this is a great achievement. I am happy for him. He is a fine cricketer, and once he remains focused and applies himself, I expect him to do very well,” the coach said.

STETHS, having now taken the Headley Cup for the 27th time, will turn their attention to the all-island Spalding Cup. They will face urban champions Campion College who last week defeated St George’s College to take the ISSA/Grace Shield.

Ledgister, who bemoaned the absence of “quality” opposition in the Headley Cup this season, said there will be no complacency against the urban champions.

“We know that Campion has good players and we are hoping for stiff competition. We will be taking nothing for granted,” Ledgister said.

— Garfield Myers