Efficient Wolmer’s seize early Grace Shield advantage

A WORKMANLIKE performance with the ball from Alex Hinds and then proficient batting from Jordan Johnson and captain Justin Beckford have given Wolmer’s Boys’ School the upper hand and first-innings honours over St Jago High School on the opening day of their three-day ISSA/Grace Shield final at Melbourne Oval yesterday.

Wolmer’s will resume today’s second day on 146 for five, a lead of 35 runs after St Jago was first restricted to 111 all out.

Beckford will be looking to chalk up Wolmers’ second half-century in the game as he will resume on 43 with Alex Hinds on 21.

Earlier, Jordan Johnson hit 54 to lead the Heroes Circle-based school’s reply, this against two wickets for 18 runs so far from Antonio Buckley.

Earlier, it was Alex Hinds who did the brunt of the damage by grabbing five wickets to set back St Jago, who decided to take the first strike on a pitch that was difficult for stroke play in the initial stages.

A slow start from the St Jago’s openers meant they only had 34 runs on the board in the first 10 overs, but then Hinds started the demolition job with the first of his five wickets when he bowled opener Jehlen Trotz for 11.

Six runs later, Hinds also snapped up number-three batter Shamore Dawkins for four before bowling Lindale Anderson for two. St Jago were staring down the barrel at 52 for three.

Opener Akeem Samuels, who started off slowly, eventually picked up his innings and got to 43 before he was given out caught behind, to the disgust of the opener.

Milton Luckain blasted a few boundaries to breathe some life into the St Jago innings, but when he fell to Matthew Aljoe for 34, the Monk Street-based school innings went into the freefall as they went from 100 for five to 111 all out.

Hinds finished with five for 40, while Nicholas Holung took three for 18 and Aljoe two for 21.

Wolmer’s coach, Jerraine Williams, was somewhat pleased with his team’s outing on the opening day.

“It was a good day of cricket; however, I was a bit disappointed in our batting performance so far, but all in all, Wolmer’s are in front. I thought our bowling was very disciplined to get them out for 111, but we are a bit lacking in the batting department, with some batters not coming up trumps.”

Joseph Lemmie, coach of St Jago High, chided his batters after not capitalising on making first use of the wicket.

“We didn’t bat how we wanted to. I thought our batters gave away their wickets with poor shot selections. We all know that playing against a good Wolmer’s team, 111 is not enough. We have to reassess our strategy and come back strong.”