By Anthony Foster , Freelance WriterWILCO SPORTS/Headley Cup champions Holmwood Technical are in command of their three-day Spaulding Cup final against Spanish Town entering today's second day play at Chedwin Park.
At the end of an opening day in which 20 wickets fell, the scoreboard read: Holmwood 222; Spanish Town 85.
Sent in to bat, the rural area boys were not able to put partnerships together, as apart from 39 for the seventh wicket between Kadian McKenzie, 33, and Jeffrey Scott, 17, and 36 for the second wicket between Donovan Sinclair, 55, and Tarique White, 34, Spanish Town did not have to wait long for wickets.
Daniel Ricketts was the first to go for Holmwood, caught off Markon Guy for 14. His dismissal brought to the crease Sinclair, the younger brother of Matthew Sinclair.
During his innings, in which he hit four fours, Sinclair, watched his partner White, who also hit six fours, fall to Marvin Reid.
Sinclair, who kept wicket for Jamaica at last year's West Indies Youth tournament in Guyana was also at the crease when top batsman Ziggy Levy, seven, and former Jamaica Under-15 player Andre McCarthy, 15, departed to leave the team at 127 for five.
It wasn't long after that Sinclair, after bringing up his half century, mistimed a straight one from fast bowler Kevon Goldson and was given out leg before at 143 for six.
In what could be Sinclair's last innings in schoolboy cricket, it was one he shouldn't regret as he batted with maturity and determination, which helped set up Holmwood's total.
Bowling for Spanish Town, Guy picked up 4-37 from 11 overs, Ricardo Ennis 3-30 off 18 overs while Goldson (1-55), Marvin Reid (1-18) and Carlos Davis (1-2).
TOP ORDER ROCKED
In reply, pacer Boris Hutchinson rocked Spanish Town's top order, removing last week's double century maker Ricardo Howe, four, Marinado Dixon, 10, and Wayne Morgan, nine, to finish with 3-17 off six overs.
Spanish Town's biggest partnership was 21 for the ninth wicket, this was made possible with the combined efforts of Kemar Reid, nine, and Carlos Davis, 15 not out. Sinclair ended with 3-25, while Domaine Sangster, 2-4, and Levy, 2-23, were also among the wickets for Holmwood.
Holmwood's coach, Robert Lewis, said he was pretty satisfied with the day's play.
"Although the 222 was a bit disappointing, I think the guys have done well to bowl Spanish Town out. Boris bowled well to pick up three early wickets," Lewis said.
