Lawes leads from the front as St Jago snatch Grace Shield

In a thrilling final that ebbed and flowed over three days of high-quality schoolboy cricket, St Jago High School emerged as the champions of the First Global Bank Grace Shield, securing a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Campion College at a tense Melbourne Oval yesterday.

The victory was orchestrated by the indomitable St Jago captain and West Indies U19 star spinner Vitel Lawes, whose all-around performance, including a match-winning, unbeaten 74 in the second innings, cemented his legacy as one of the school’s finest cricketing sons.

Chasing a gettable target of 168 for victory after bowling out Campion for a paltry 63 in their second innings, St Jago’s chase was anything but straightforward.

Early wickets from Campion’s Zachary Taylor and Neo Xavier had the St Jago top order wobbling at 90 for 5, sparking memories of the first innings’ struggles.

However, Lawes, who had already claimed a six-wicket haul earlier in the match, walked to the crease with the composure of a seasoned veteran.

He launched a stunning counter-attack, bludgeoning 74 not out off just 74 balls, a knock that featured five boundaries and seven towering sixes.

His unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 80 with Raheem Willie (1 not out) guided St Jago to 170 for 5, sealing the title with plenty of overs to spare.

Earlier, the final had been set up nicely, after a gripping first innings that saw Campion post 246, thanks largely to a brilliant 112 from captain Abraham Waugh. St Jago declared at 142 for nine in their first time at the crease.

With the match finely poised, Campion resumed their second innings with a 104-run lead, but their batting order crumbled a second time against a relentless St Jago attack.

Unlikely hero

Samuel Burgher was the unlikely hero with the ball, snaring 4 for 6 from nine devastating overs of tight bowling, while Lawes, 2 for 22, and pacer Wayne Plummer, 2 for 21, and off-spinner Rajiv Bacchus, 2 for 12, tore through the Campion line-up.

The carnage began immediately when Lawes bowled Waugh for a golden duck on the very first ball of the innings. Waugh, the hero of the first innings, could only watch as his side was skittled for 63.

Zachary Taylor was the innings’ top scorer with 22, while Lloyd made 16.

Over in the Grace Headley Cup final at Manchester High, the home side conceded first innings honours to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

When the rain ended play, STETHS were 167 for two, replying to Manchester’s first-innings score of 104.

Captain Tyreik Bryan is eight runs shy of a century after he and fellow opener Humaro Reid (34) put on 127 runs for the opening wicket.

Bryan has so far laced 10 fours in his unbeaten 92. With him at the crease is Odane Binns, who is not out on 11.

Earlier, Adrian Weir bagged an impressive six wickets to help restrict Manchester High.

Eckoney Robinson chipped in with two wickets against a fighting 48 from captain Pajay Nelson.