Ramone Francis of Eltham High bowled his team to an exciting 19-run victory over St George’s College as the 2016 Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Grace Shield High Schoolboys cricket semi-final round ended at Emmet Park, St George’s College, on Friday.

Francis, who was the chief destroyer of St George’s second innings with figures of eight wickets for 67 runs off 24.2 overs, followed up his first-innings haul of six for 57 runs off 26 overs to finish with match figures of 14 wickets for 144 runs.

The Eltham captain also over- shadowed his opposing captain, Simon Lee of St George’s, who had a match haul of 12 wickets for 100 runs in the match. He took six for 44 off 20 overs in the first innings and followed this up with another good bowling performance of six for 56 off 19.1 overs in Eltham’s second innings.

Scores in the match: Eltham High 123 all out off 48 overs, and 155 all out off 46 overs; St George’s College 128 all out off 55 overs, and 132 all outs.

Winning Coach Sean Headlam said this is the eighth final the school will be contesting. “We have won six times out of the last seven finals, with 2010 our only defeat, and that was against Innswood.

“It was a tough match as we had to fight from losing first innings to St George’s. The players were not disciplined with their batting, so we had a keen battle and had to fight hard to achieve the win over our opponents,” Headlam said.

“The five-run lead was no problem to us as the batsmen batted a little better in the second innings and gave them a formidable score to get. I was also very confident that Eltham could defend the 151 runs and pull off victory.”

Meanwhile, Francis, who is in his final year at Eltham High School, said he had planned to get 50 wickets or more this season.

“The match was a good one for Eltham, as [at] one stage we were a bit worried with St George’s coasting at 76 for one wicket before we finally got the breakthrough; then they began to lose wickets in quick succession,” Francis said. “It is also very important for the players going into the final.”

Eltham were sent to bat first by St George’s and scored 123 runs, with Ramone Francis scoring 67 runs which included seven fours. He made his 50 runs off 33 balls. Romone Donegal made 22, Lashawn Heslop 18; Simon Lee six for 44; Kirk McKenzie three for 30.

St George’s replied with 128 all out after resuming Thursday at 112 for eight wickets. Lee made 63 with nine fours; Ramone Francis bagged six for 57, Rahim Garnett got 3 for 52.

Batting a second time, Eltham scored 155 all out, Romone Donegal 65, Ramone Francis 28, Javon Brown 25; Simon Lee six for 56; Kirk McKenzie three for 72.

St George’s were set 151 runs for victory, which at one stage, they were cruising at 76 for one before wickets started to tumble. Kymani Wilson scored 44, Vauyani Bailey added 33 not out, and Kirk McKenzie 16; Ramone Francis got eight for 67.

Meanwhile, Excelsior High gained first innings over St Catherine High in their drawn encounter at St Catherine High School playfield. Scores: Excelsior 447 all out — Ramond Hall 85, Raewin Senior 85, Orande Pearson 60, Oharchie Brown 46 not out, Orlando Rowe 32; Davany Morgan three for 37; Raheem Robinson three for 37.

St Catherine High 113 all out off 46 overs. Morgan blasted 92 runs; Romario Brown snared five for 21; Rowe three for 20. The match was called off after tea.