Eltham’s Francis all-round play destroys Campion in Grace Shield Cricket
Eltham High pulled off a major upset by defeating defending champions Campion College by 48 runs in their 2016 Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Grace Shield High Schools cricket competition two-day semi-final round at Eltham school grounds on Tuesday.
The loss was difficult for head coach Donald Bredwood who said Campion will now have to beat St George’s College next week to remain in contention going into their final match against Calabar High.
Romaine Francis was the main destroyer for Eltham High scoring 115 runs, before capturing 14 wickets for 142 runs. He first took seven for 85 off 34 overs in the first innings and then followed it up with seven for 57 off 24 overs.
Meanwhile, Jevaor Royal of Innswood High took a 13-wicket haul for 28 runs as he destroyed the batting of St Catherine that gave his team a 118-run win. He took an unbelievable seven wickets for two runs off 8.2 overs in the first innings, and returned to take six wickets for 24 runs.
At Eltham, batting first, the hosts were bowled out for a mere 112 runs with Romaine Donegal scoring 62, as Atishai Mansingh captured six wickets for 10 runs off 13.1 overs, supported by Kyle Pottinger with three for 31.
Campion in their turn rattled up 187 all out with Dominik Samuels getting 65, Mansingh 46, Neil Johnson 24.
Eltham who trailed by 75 runs batted much better in their second inning as they made 259 for eight declared with Francis making 115 runs, supported by Donegal with 46. Samuels captured four for 69 and Pottinger, three for 68, took most wickets.
Campion were given 174 runs to secure an outright win but were bundled out for 139 with Francis doing the damage yet again.
Excelsior completed a nine-wicket win over Wolmer’s Boys’ at the Courtney Walsh Oval to remain unbeaten in the competition with their seventh consecutive victory.
Scores: Wolmer’s 137 all out, and 150 all out in 42 overs; Excelsior 230 all out off 42 overs, and 58 for one wicket off nine overs.
At St Catherine High School, Innswood defeated the hosts by 118 runs. Scores: Innswood 135 all out and 136 for nine wickets declared; St Catherine High 69 all out and 84 all out.
The next round of matches will be played next Wednesday and Thursday.
In Group E – defending champions Campion College face St George’s College at Campion College; Eltham High take on Calabar High at Eltham School.
In Group F – Wolmer’s Boys’ face St Catherine High at Wolmer’s Boys’; and Excelsior High oppose Innswood High at Courtney Walsh Oval (Excelsior High School), starting at 10:00 am each day.
— Gerald Reid