Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
THOMAS
WITH THEIR recent record-breaking performance against St. Catherine High in the Grace Shield Premier League final still fresh in their minds, urban area champions Eltham High will, starting today, take on rural kingpins Holmwood Technical in the Spaulding Cup final.
The three-day match will be played at Kirkvine starting at 10:00 a.m. each day.
Holmwood scored 118 for two to beat STETHS on first innings for the WILCO/Headley Cup, while Eltham scored a record 552 for five declared to outplay St. Catherine High for the Grace Shield.
STRONG FIGHT
Many corporate area cricket fans believe that, unlike Norman Manley High and Spanish Town High, who were battered by Holmwood in the past two finals, Eltham will put up a much better showing.
Holmwood's coach Robert Lewis said he expects a good final, but although he doesn't know anything about Eltham, the name of Shacoya Thomas is out there.
"I am ready ... my boys are geared up and ready to take on Eltham," Lewis said.
The Christiana-based school also boasts a number of 'stars', a luxury Eltham does not have. They do, however, have in their line-up schoolboy cricket's individual record holder Shacoya Thomas, who scored an unbeaten 324 in the Grace Shield final.
The players who have played between the Under-19 and Under-15 levels for Holmwood are Ziggy Levy, captain Boris Hutchinson, Andre Creary, Andre McCarthy, who took seven wickets against STETHS in last week's final, Tarique White, Marlon Johnson, Jeffery Scott, Paul Powell and Bruce Blackwood.
However, apart from saying he is looking forward to a good final, Eltham's coach Oral Simpson said his boys will not be playing names.
"They don't play name players ... They play the game of cricket. They are very hard working, dedicated and committed, so it's going to be a very good game"
"I know the boys are confident," he said.
Apart from Thomas, Eltham will be looking to Matthew Stewart, Damion Wright, captain Kishan Shattock, Kinopaul Sailsman, Sandre Watson to lead them to what would be an upset.
