STETHS hold nerve in low-scoring affair against Excelsior

LAST YEAR’S beaten finalists, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), proved that they will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the ISSA TVJ Super 8 T20 competition after defending a small total to secure a four-run win over Excelsior at Chedwin Park yesterday.

STETHS first posted a mere 78 all out in 15 overs and then restricted Excelsior to 74 for eight in 20 overs.

After deciding to take the first strike, STETHS found the going tough, losing in-form opener Sean Roye for nought in the first over of the day.

Left-hander Tyriek Bryan got his way to 13 runs before he was cleaned up by spinner Demarco Scott, leaving STETHS at 20 for two.

Captain Malique Williams consolidated the innings and got his team to the halfway stage at 62 for three, but on the resumption following the drinks break, STETHS lost wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for 78. Williams top-scored with 18 while Odane Binns got to 14.

Scott was the main destroyer, bagging three wickets for just seven runs with his leg-spinning partner, Tamarie Redwood, also claiming three wickets for 17 runs. There were two wickets each for captain Michael Clarke and Malik Miller.

Excelsior’s reply got off to a decent start and was looking on course to chase down the total at 40 for three, but the experienced Clarke, who was on 19, played an auspicious reverse sweep off a straight delivery and was adjudged lbw to Javid Simpson.

That wicket sent panic down the Excelsior dressing room, four run-outs compounding their problems.

At 72 for seven, Excelsior needed seven runs off the last over. However, seamer Kevoni Graham conceded just two runs to Cavan Malcolm and Jamie Thomas to seal the win for the perennial contenders.

PLAN WORKED PERFECTLY

Winning coach Clive Ledgister said the plan worked perfectly despite the low total.

“We were always confident despite the score. We knew once we put this Excelsior team under pressure by removing their marquee player, they would falter along the way.”

Excelsior coach Kirkland Bailey praised his bowlers for restricting STETHS, but the batting was found wanting once again.

“We have been hot and cold all season with the bat with three out of my top five being under-15 players. Losing our most experienced batter in the way how we did, put pressure on the rest of the team and in the end we fell short.”

In the second game of the doubleheader, Tacky High defeated St Jago High by 86 runs.

Tacky first posted 176 for three in 20 overs, Tyson Gordon Jr top-scoring with 46 and Aon Ennis getting 41. St Jago were then restricted to 90 for eight in their 20 overs with Vitel Lawes top-scoring with 27 against three wickets for Jordan Pinnock.

Over at St George’s College, defending champions, Wolmer’s, suffered a five-wicket loss to Manchester High. Wolmer’s first posted 131 for eight in their 20 overs after which Manchester eased to 134 for five in 19.1 overs.

In the second game of the doubleheader, May Day brushed aside hosts St George’s College by eight wickets. George’s were first routed for 41 with May Day easing to 44 for two.