By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Norman Manley players are all smiles as they hold the George and Branday A League schoolboy cricket trophy at Melbourne Oval yesterday. Norman Manley defeated Ardenne by 244 runs. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
NORMAN MANLEY swiftly demolished Ardenne by 244 runs inside five sessions to lift the 2003 George and Branday A League schoolboy cricket trophy at Melbourne Oval yesterday.
On a sensational morning during which the Norman Manley bowlers found top form, the Ardenne Road-based boys crashed from an overnight 17 without loss in 12 overs as spinners Yanick Elliott and Omar Allison went on the rampage.
Elliott ended with four for 15 while Allison, who scored a half-century in his team's innings of 360, picked up two for six as Ardenne survived for just one hour after lunch to be dismissed for 116.
Earlier, Ardenne started the day with Andre Cunningham on eight and Dean Robinson, five, but with the score on 38, pacer Dave Johnson trapped the latter leg before for 12. Within the space of 13 runs, Ardenne suffered a big blow when they lost national youth player and senior batsman Simon Jackson to a very good catch in the deep off Elliott for eight.
The score of 51 for two soon became 78 for six, however, Ron Tushaine, 23, and Cunningham, 38, added 35 for the seventh wicket, the second highest of their innings, but that was not good enough to secure victory.
However, for reaching the final, both teams have secured a place in next year's Grace Shield Premier League.
