STETHS, Innswood in Spalding Cup showdown

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

After capturing their respective regional championships, both St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) and Innswood High will over the next three days turn their attention to the all-island ISSA/Grace Spalding Cup, which will be played at the latter's home ground, Chedwin Park, St Catherine.

A showdown which could go either way given the make-up of both teams, the game is slated to bowl off at 10 each morning.

For St Elizabeth Technical, who last week retained the rural area ISSA/Grace Headley Cup, the aim will be to claim yet another hold on the symbol of high school cricket supremacy.

Innswood, in the meanwhile, who last week captured their second consecutive hold on the urban area ISSA/Grace Shield title, will be gunning for their first lien on the title after suffering a narrow defeat to STETHS at STETHS last year.

"I am not making any predictions, but we are pretty confident going into the game that we can do better than we did last year," said Innswood coach Kirk Gordon, who last year saw his team suffer a 61-run loss after taking first innings honours.

"Last year inconsistency and inexperience got the better of us, however, now that we have that experience we are better prepared, and we are looking to take advantage of playing at home."

Innswood, who like STETHS are still in with a shot at the coveted treble, which also includes the knockout, in their pursuits, will look to former national Under-19 batsmen, openers Oraine Williams and Peat Salmon, former national Under-19 invitee Kemar Foster, and leg-spinner Jermaine Bennett, who with 46 wickets topped the bowling aggregate in the Grace Shield.

struggling with injuries

St Elizabeth Technical, in the meantime, who will be without national Under-19 leg-spinner Donovan Nelson, who is currently in Dubai, Qatar with the West Indies Under-19 team, will look to former national Under-19 players, batsmen Paul Palmer Jr, Brian Gayle, Sheldon Samuels and Vaniel Broomfield, and former West Indies Under-19 fast bowler Nicholson Gordon.

"We are struggling with a few injuries as Gordon recently suffered a back injury, Samuels collided with another player and is stilling suffering from a concussion. We will also have to do without Nelson who in the play-off last season took 13 wickets in the match," said STETHS coach Clive Ledgister.

"But it's cricket, and should our other senior players step up, we should represent ourselves well," he added.