Barabados: Schools South near first win in 5 years (27 Jun 1998)

27 June 1998

The class act: Schools South near first win in 5 years

by Haydn Gill

Rarely do CHIC Schools South command the spotlight. But they will today.

Having transformed their favourable opening day position into one of dominance on Day 2, the schoolboys seem set to complete their first Division 1 victory since 1993.

Cockspur Wanderers, harassed by the persistent schoolboys, need something extra-special or divine intervention if they are to avoid defeat on the third and final day of their second round Courts/Suzuki match at Lodge "A".

Wanderers begin this afternoon with a modest lead of 76 and only two wickets in hand. So it seems likely that they will set the schoolboys around 100 for victory.

Should the students successfully complete their assignment, it would be their first victory at this level in a whopping 56 matches, the last having been achieved against the same opponents in the 11th series of the 1993 season.

Then, a big partnership between Philip Spooner (73 not out) and Ian Bradshaw (66 not out) guided Dwain Gill's team to a seven wicket-triumph.

Schools South manager/coach Darnley Boxill is reasonably confident that his boys can deliver the knockout punch.

"We have outplayed them and it is now up to us to finish off the job," he told the SUN On Saturday.

"At each stage of the game we've had to fight. It just didn't happen. That should give the guys some confidence, but we cannot get complacent."

Schools South, easy pickings for many teams over the past few seasons, are no longer afraid of the established clubs, said Boxill.

"The boys are not frightened of anybody. We are going to approach our target positively. We're not going to poke around, but we're going to be selective.

"We're also not going to under-estimate our opponents or the weather."

The schoolboys' position was set up after they dismissed Wanderers for 73 on the first day.

They strengthened their grip by grabbing a lead of 83 and took the initiative in the second innings by restricting Wanderers to 159 for eight, despite a belligerent half-century from West Indies opener Clayton Lambert and another from teenager Duane Brathwaite.

No other team made as much progress as the Schools South on the first two days and the only other sides with good chances of victory are Banks and BET.

BET, helped by Courtney Browne's second century in as many matches, should overcome BCL, who resume their second innings trailing by 134 runs with nine wickets intact.

Banks, vastly enhanced by the presence of former YMPC left-arm spinner Winston Reid, are in the ascendancy against United Insurance Carlton at Black Rock.

The home team start the final day ahead by only 43 with six wickets in hand. Reid has already collected 17 scalps this season and is virtually certain to add to his tally today.

Either ICB Empire or Sports & Games YMPC, Police or Mount Gay Maple could pull off wins.

At Lodge 'A': Cocskpur Wanderers 73 and 159/8. CHIC Schools South 156.

At Black Rock: United Insurance Carlton 114 and 102/4. Banks 173.

At Blenheim 'A': BCL 133 and 23/1. BET 290/7 decl'd.

At Bank Hall: ICB Empire 150 and 39/4. Sports & Games YMPC 118.

At Trents: BNB St. Catherine 124/9 decl'd. Mount Gay Maple 205/8.

At Weymouth 'A': Police 300/8 decl'd. CHIC Schools North 88/5.

At Kensington Oval: ESA Field Pickwick 251. Big B Spartan 227/4.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)