STETHS win five straight

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

National Under-19 off-spinner Horane Linton yesterday produced a good, steady spell of bowling to guide St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) to a 39-run win over Innswood High in the all-island ISSA/Grace Spalding Cup final at Chedwin Park, St Catherine.

Linton, bowling with good flight, bounce and turn, claimed impressive figures of six for 40 as urban area champions Innswood, chasing 227 for victory, were dismissed for 188 before lunch on yesterday's third and final day.

The triumph, which was rural area kingpins STETHS's fifth in the last five years and 25th overall, brought joy to the faces of their players, who danced and pranced at the end.

Final scores: STETHS 127 and 162, Innswood 63 and 188.

"It feels good to know that we are champions again after what I think was a hard-fought game," said Clive Ledgister, coach of STETHS.

"It is even more special to know that after planning for it over the last five years we were able to win the title in this our 50th year of existence, and the hope is that we will be able to continue our winning trend in years to come," he added.

spright start

Resuming the day on 150 for six and needing to score another 78 runs to pull off what would have been a remarkable win, Innswood started rather sprightly when, led by Shane Pusey, who was 29 not out overnight, and new batsman Kemar Foster, they batted with caution and care to see off STETHS's lively pacer and first-innings standout, Omar Samuels.

However, with the score on 174 and Innswood 54 runs adrift, Pusey tried to lift the tempo and was bowled by off-spinner Rasseei Spencer for 31, after attempting an expansive drive through the covers.

Linton and fellow off-spinner Spencer kept up the pressure and wrapped up the match by claiming the other three wickets for 14 runs.

Foster ended on 31 not out, while Spencer took three for 50.

Innswood's coach Kirk Gordon, who was in tears when Innswood surrendered the title to STETHS last year, was less emotional this time around.

"I am disappointed knowing that our bowlers bowled well to keep us in the game, but our batsmen failed to take us home," he said. "It's not like STETHS are unbeatable, as like last year when we took first innings but lost the match outright. We saw where we could have beaten them. But tough luck for us and congrats to STETHS, they fought harder than us."