ST Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Head Coach Clive Ledgister lauded his team’s determination to wrest the Spalding Cup schoolboy cricket title on Friday, after claiming first-innings honours against Wolmer’s Boys’ in the rain-hit, tension-packed, three-day match at STETHS Sports Complex.

Immediately after the lunch break on the third and final day, with rain clouds closing in on the venue, STETHS, the schoolboy cricket kingpins, were bowled out for 178, giving them an all-important, 12-run first-innings lead against Wolmer’s.

Batting a second time, Wolmer’s raced to 66 without loss in seven overs in the post-lunch session before a persistent downpour ruled out play for the rest of the day and forced a draw. Rain had wiped out over 60 overs on Wednesday and approximately 30 overs on Thursday.

Scores: Wolmer’s 166 and 66-0; STETHS 178.

“I always believed in my team. We stuck to the task and we fought to the end and I just want to say congratulations to them. They made me proud, and I know they made the entire St Elizabeth Technical school community proud,” Ledgister told the Jamaica Observer during a post-match interview.

“I knew it was always going to be a tight game… I’m proud to see Wolmer’s were serious contenders in this Spalding Cup,” the STETHS coach added.

Wolmer’s Head Coach Jerraine Williams, while praising his players’ grit, said losing wickets at critical stages undermined their first-innings effort.

“It was a very close game, it was a good encounter. I think my boys played their hearts out but, unfortunately, it didn’t go our way; that’s the nature of the game. But, all in all ,it was a good team effort from Wolmer’s Boys’.

“I think we had a few players who should’ve cashed in but we lost wickets at some crucial stages which meant we didn’t get the kind of [first-innings] total we wanted,” Williams told the Observer.

STETHS began Friday morning on 97-5 and lost Odel Samuels after adding only one run to their overnight score.

But Kevoni Graham (39) and Odane Binns (30) added a game-changing 62 runs that brought the hosts within a whisker of taking first-innings honours.

Both were dismissed one run apart and Govasta Edmond (four) fell with the scores level before umpires called for lunch.

STETHS got a single from the first ball on the resumption to inch ahead, as home supporters cheered loudly.

The innings was wrapped up moments later with STETHS holding an invaluable lead.

Jordan Johnson, bowling wrist spin, took 5-40 for Wolmer’s.

Johnson opened the innings as Wolmer’s batted a second time and crashed a quick-fire 32 not out alongside Jose Northover, who made an unbeaten 28 before rain ended the match.