By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterTHE SPALDING Cup, the symbol of schoolboy cricket supremacy in the island, looks set remain in rural Jamaica with defending champions Holmwood Technical after the penultimate day of their final against Spanish Town High at Chediwn Park yesterday.
Despite a six-wicket effort from Ricardo Ennis (6-103), Spanish Town will still have to chase more than 400 runs for victory when the final day's play begins this morning at 10:00.
Scores at the end of yesterday's second day: Holmwood 222 and 291; Spanish Town 85 and 25 without loss.
Boosted by a 137-run first innings lead, Holmwood were led by half centuries from Donovan Sinclair and Kadian McKenzie in their final innings for the Manchester school in their second turn at the crease.
Sinclair, 74, and McKenzie, 55 - who are the only two players that will depart Holmwood's team come next season - hit eight and four boundaries respectively. Again, top batsman Ziggy Levy, who a lot will be expected of come next year, failed but Domaine Sangster, 43, and Tarique White, 35, played key supporting roles to Sinclair and McKenzie.
In their second innings, Ricardo Howe, who scored a double century, 226 against Jonathan Grant in the Grace Shield final a week ago, and Marinado Dixon will continue their innings for Spanish Town today. Howe is on six and Dixon 10.
The coach of the Holmwood team, Robert Lewis, believes Spanish Town's chances of victory are all but gone.
"I think this is out of their reach right now. We would have to bowl, field and catch very badly," a confident Lewis said.
Although Holmwood were expected to score more than 300 runs, Lewis was still happy with their performance. He explained the reason for their low total in both innings.
"We haven't played since April 1 as a team, we are a bit rusty where matches are concerned.
"One of the problems each year is that the WILCO/Headley Cup finishes before the Grace Shield and we have to sit and wait," Lewis said.
