Gerald Reid, Freelance Writer
Sunlight Cup champions Kingston College ended the first day of the Spalding Cup final against Headley Cup winners Holmwood Technical in a strong position at Melbourne Oval yesterday, thanks to a fighting innings of 73 from all-rounder Andrew Richardson.
The tall left-hander featured in two good partnerships after KC looked in trouble at 132 for six at lunch. He posted 40 runs for the seventh wicket with Lincoln Granston (19) and more importantly, 78 runs for the eighth wicket with Andrew Dennis (15).
Scores so far: Kingston College 275 all out; Holmwood two without loss when badlight stopped play. The match resumes this morning at 10:30. Richardson batting at number eight scored a fighting knock, which was the innings of the day. He and Dennis took KC from 172 for seven to 250 before he was bowled by McEnnis.
Richardson struck six delightful fours, two towering sixes, after batting for 185 minutes and faced 162 balls.
Holmwood's fast bowler Evon McEnnis also shared some of the spotlight with a six-wicket haul for 50 runs off 20 overs, including seven maidens. He had most of the batsmen playing and missing on numerous occasions.
Kingston College's captain, Shane Brooks won the toss and decided to bat. They received a flying start from openers Kemar Duncan and Sean Cousley. Duncan's first two scoring shots were well struck boundaries off pacer Sean Spence's first over.
The first of four balls to be lost in the match began when Duncan pulled Spence over the mid wicket boundary for six in the third over, then cracked Spence for a sweeping cover drive.
Cousley who was playing and missing to McEnnis outside the off stump, was eventually caught by wicketkeeper Matthew Sinclair. Duncan was also bowled by McEnnis for 45 with six fours and two sixes at 59 for two. Also getting among the runs were Merrick Watson (31), Shane Brooks (26), Lincoln Granston (19) and Alistair Shermon (17). Spinner Kevin offered good support to McEnnis with two for 73.
Day 2: Holmwood victorious
Gerald Reid , Freelance Writer
Holmwood Technical High crushed defending champions Kingston College by five wickets to capture the Spalding Cup title at Melbourne Oval yesterday.
Scores: Kingston College 275 all out, Holmwood Technical 281 for five.
The win was Holmwood's third lien on the Spalding Cup, the symbol of schoolboy cricket supremacy in the island.
Fine half centuries from skipper Ricardo Powell, Roger Sollodan and Evon McInnis highlighted play yesterday.
Despite Powell's masterful strokeplay, the innings of the match belonged to fast bowler McInnis who had taken six for 50 in KC's innings.
He launched a belligerent attack against Kingston College fast bowler Andrew Richardson, hitting two towering sixes and four fours in two overs, which rushed Holmwood to a convincing victory.
Holmwood lost an early wicket with only 23 runs on the board when opener Wayne Ewart caught by Richard Green at midwicket off Richardson for nine, but then the KC bowlers were made to toil.
While Sollodan played the defensive role, Powell launched an all-out attack on the bowling, which was weakened due to skipper Shane Brooks and Kerry Scott taking exams. They did not take the field until after lunch.
Powell's brilliant knock came to an end when he lifted a short ball from Brooks and was caught by Scott at deep midwicket for 83 with the score on 148.
Sollodan was the third wicket to fall, bowled by Scott for a well-played 69. Holmwood went to tea at 193 for three.
Immediately after tea, Matthew Sinclair was caught behind for 27 at 196 and Keith Winter followed a few runs later for ten at 209 for five. Spinners Brooks and Scott continued to check the flow of runs, until Brooks made a change and brought in pacer Richardson who was thrashed around the park by McInnis.
With one run remaining for victory, McInnis clobbered another six to finish the match in fine fashion. He was unbeaten on 64, made off 34 balls with eight fours and four sixes.