STETHS, Innswood in tight battle

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

It is still anybody's game as to who will capture the 2011 all-island ISSA/Grace Spalding Cup, which is being contested by rural area champions St Elizabeth Technical and urban area champions Innswood High at Chedwin Park.

Set a respectable 227 to record an outright win after losing first innings points, Innswood closed yesterday's second and penultimate day of the three-day encounter day on 150 for six, 78 runs shy of what would be a memorable victory.

Should STETHS win, they would seal a fifth consecutive hold, and 25th overall, on the coveted title.

Resuming the day on 48 for six, chasing STETHS' first innings score of 127, Innswood could only manage to add another 15 runs and were bowled out inside half hour for a paltry 63.

Leading the way for STETHS was national Under-19 seamer, Omar Samuels, who after claiming five for 21 on the opening day, returned to grab another three wickets to end with eight for 27.

29 top score

Wicketkeeper Terrence Brown, who top scored with 29, was the only player to reach double figures.

With a first innings lead of 64, STETHS then went on the offensive and thanks to a 65-run ninth wicket stand between Samuels, batting at No. 8, and No. 9 batsman Rasseei Spencer, they were able to post a modest 162 in their second innings. Samuels made 44 and Spencer 27.

Bowling for Innswood, left-arm spinner Stephan Casey and off-spinner Peat Salmon, claimed four for 25 and four for 50, respectively.

This then set up the enticing run-chase, which was witnessed by a drum-beating cadre of Innswood students, teachers and well-wishers, who lined the boundary ropes in the hope that their team will turn the tables on STETHS, which defeated them in last year's final.

However, after a solid start in which captain Oraine Williams and makeshift opener, Brown, put on 70, things took a bad turn for the home team.

After going into the tea break at 93 for one, they went on to lose five more wickets in the final session of the day for the addition of a mere 57 runs.

Brown 37, Williams 39 and Marshell Marsh 31 have so far made most runs for the home team, while bowling for STETHS, who employed a largely spin attack despite the availability of Samuels, off-spinners Horane Linton and Spencer have so far taken three for 32 and two for 36, respectively.

"It has so far been a tremendous effort from the team, especially given the fact that we are playing away from home, which is always difficult," said Paul Palmer, captain of STETHS.

"The game, however, is still evenly poised and 78 is not a lot of runs to defend, so we will just have to come tomorrow morning and do our best to get the remaining wickets."

Innswood's skipper Williams said: "We are on the back foot, but knowing that if we win it would be historic, our remaining batsmen will just have to put their head down and bat, a situation I am confident that they can do."

Play resumes today at 10 a.m.