Spin dominates play in Spalding Cup

THE 2018 edition of the ISSA Spalding Cup has been dominated by spin bowling over the first two days of action at the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) Sports Complex, this after offspinner Jeavor Royal’s six wickets for 50 runs helped to dismiss Headley Cup winners STETHS for 165 runs.

In reply, Grace Shield champions Innswood High School reached 121 for eight when rain forced an early end to the day’s play.

Royal, who is also Innswood’s captain, was asked what inspired the heavy use of spin that saw their pacer bowling only two overs for the entire innings. He told The Gleaner that they were simply playing to their strengths.

“I only have one pace bowler, and yesterday, he didn’t bowl well, so I called on my spinners to do the job. Spin is what I really rely on as it is the strength of the team,” said Royal.

“I think I bowled really well,” said Royal, who is also a West Indies Under-19 all-rounder. “I was patient, and my other spinners were backing me up at the next end. All I had to do is put the ball in the right areas and wait for the STETHS batsmen to make a mistake.”

DOMINANT ROLE

Captain of STETHS Roberto Simpson shared that spin bowling has played a huge part in schoolboy cricket since he has been playing.

“Over the years, spin has been dominant because there are more spinners in the school than pace bowlers,” said Simpson.

Odane Thompson, who remained unbeaten on 45, helped STETHS add 24 to their overnight score of 141. Carlos Brown is the top scorer for Innswood so far after falling for a well-played 42 off the bowling of offspinner André McCarty, who grabbed four for 12 at stumps.