By Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Jonathan Grant's wicketkeeper Darnell McCallum and fast bowler Paul Foster celebrate the dismissal of Norman Manley's Jason Hutton for eight during the replayed Grace Shield Premier League semi-final at Chedwin Park yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
NORMAN MANLEY appeared set to win a place in the final of the Grace Shield Premier League schoolboy cricket competition when play on the opening day of their replay semi-final match against Jonathan Grant ended at Chedwin Park yesterday.
Replying to Jonathan Grant's 117 off 62 overs, Norman Manley were 110 for five from 55 overs and with only another eight runs needed for victory, five wickets in hand, and 40 overs still to be bowled, the odds are certainly in their favour.
Omar Allison, 17, and Andre Wilson, 10, have so far shared in an unbroken 32-run sixth-wicket stand and are tipped to carry Norman Manley to the final against Spanish Town.
Set 118 to win, Norman Manley got off to a poor start when they lost Domain Wilson, bowled by Dave Archer, without a run on the board. Shortly afterwards, it was 17 for two when Jason Hutton, eight, edged pacer Paul Foster (1-12) to wicket-keeper Darnell McCallum.
Yanick Elliott and Marvin Gray took them team to tea at 23 for two, Elliott was stumped by McCallum off Nkrumah Banner (1-24) at 38 for three, and when captain Dave Johnson, 12, and Gray, 38, went in successive overs with the score on 78 for five, Norman Manley were in serious trouble.
Thanks to Allison and Wilson, however, they got away.
Earlier, Jonathan Grant, sent to bat after losing the toss, produced a poor batting performance with only three batsmen getting to double figures.
With two runs on the scoreboard, Cian Barrett edged medium-pacer Johnson to wicketkeeper Wilson, and after that it was like a procession.
Elliott removed Kirk Brooks at 12 for two and Devon White at 16 for three, and after a fighting fourth-wicket partnership of 44 between Renardo Francis and Darnell McCallum, Nicholas Brown sent them packing to make it 60 for five.
Fortunately for Jonathan Grant, Ricardo Wilson, 37, and Darnell Archer, 7, turned up with a 30-run sixth-wicket stand that carried them close to the century mark.
Johnson ended with figures of four for 27 off 13 overs, Bowen three for 23 from 14, and Elliott two for 25 from 20 overs.
