Richard Bryan, Freelance Writer
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Holmwood and last year's beaten finalists St. Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) will hope to keep their date in the final when they engage two teams which are yet to taste Headley Cup glory this morning at 10:00 a.m.
At Chedwin Park in St. Catherine, it is a case of Holmwood returning to the venue of their past two Headley Cup conquests and, against Titchfield, whom they last met in a semi-final in 1998.
At Alpart, STETHS will virtually be playing at home against Mannings, a team they last met at this stage way back in 1989 in the final at the same venue.
With at least five players who could be included in the national youth team later this year, Holmwood are unlikely to lose any sleep against Titchfield who finished second to Mannings in their quarter-final group and especially as the match requires two innings of action.
The Holmwood star-studded cast includes Andre McCarthy (West Indies and Melbourne), Marlon Johnson, who plays for St. Ann, Ziggy Levy (Manchester), Jeffrey Scott (national Youth wicketkeeper) and Andre Creary (former national Under-15 captain).
BOWLING CONCERN
If there is any concern for Holmwood coach Robert Lewis it is in the pace bowling department where he is yet to identify a match winner. Spin has done the job all season. STETHS' ammunition will likely come from Damion Ebanks (St. Elizabeth), Ismael Parchment, pacer Jason Dawes, left-arm spinner Linton Buchanan and Nikoy Samuels who has played in the past two finals.
The match-ups are otherwise predictable except for the surprise element which is possible only because it is a game of cricket.
Mannings are however more likely to feel more hopeful against STETHS if only on the basis that the former champions got to the semi-finals with the strength of three first innings honours and, even in earlier group action, failed to deliver the knock-out blow by way of comprehensive victories.
