Broomes rocks Coleridge Parry

On another evening of high drama, Kirk Broomes produced an incisive spell of controlled swing bowling that has given Alexandra a distinct advantage in the Cable & Wireless Under-15 final against their St. Peter neighbours Coleridge and Parry.

The mayhem that unfolded was almost a virtual carbon-copy of the opening day when Alexandra lost their last eight wickets for 57, but this one was even more impactful.

Coleridge and Parry were making encouraging progress, reaching 132 for two with an hour and ten minutes remaining when Broomes intervened to tilt the balance of the match.

By stumps, Alexandra were still wondering what had hit them after Broomes' remarkable figures of 23-12-31-7 engineered a stunning slide in which six wickets fell for 43.

It has left Coleridge and Parry still needing another 40 runs for decisive first innings lead with just two wickets in tact.

Broomes' plan was simple. He consistently adhered to a fullish length and undermined batsmen who could not resist the temptation to play across the line.

'I just bowled the ball at the stumps and the fielders backed me up very well,' the modest Broomes said afterwards.

'I really thought that we were out of it, but when the new ball came, I was really inspired and Barrington (Yearwood) really backed me up very well.'

As captain, he had a constant message for his players.

'We just said `once we bowl well, field well and bowl the ball at the stumps we can bring it home for Alexandra.''

Broomes is certain that this match will not end like the two finals of last season when both schools failed to produce a result in two attempts.

It was the pacy Yearwood who made inroads into Coleridge and Parry's innings after opener Antonio Greaves and little Shane Ramsey were consolidating in a third wicket stand of 45 that stretched an hour and 40 minutes.

Alexandra had just opted to take the second new ball and it was met with a pulled four by Greaves that raised his impressive half-century.

Before his teammates and supporters could end their celebrations, Greaves' stumps were shattered by Yearwood, who deserved more than the solitary wicket he took in 21 enthusiastic overs.

The breakthrough exposed a suspect Coleridge and Parry middle and lower order which Broomes cruelly exposed.

Shane Ramsey, Coleridge and Parry's five-wicket hero on the first day, was also showing his mettle with the bat by scoring 25 before Broomes hit the base of his middle stump.

Jed Yearwood managed to survive for 40 minutes before he was an lbw victim pushing uncertainly forward, but his remaining teammates, with the exception of the bold Javon Searles, hardly lasted as long as a snow-cone.

The next three batsmen were swept aside for ducks. Shawn Ramsey was the first, falling to a catch at square-leg. He was followed by Joel Leocock, another whose stumps were disturbed.

The last wicket of the day was as a result of a tumbling catch by wicket-keeper Omari Eastmond. Alexandra could have had further success had Broomes not overstepped the front crease or had Banks not missed the fourth chance of the day late in the evening. Broomes, however, was a virtual spectator in the opening session.

Coleridge and Parry had their fair share of luck, but nothing should be taken away from Greaves and captain Renaldo Parris, who survived 33 overs in posting 83 without being parted.

Parris was given chances at 15 and 27, while Greaves was missed when he was on 27. Two were sharp chances, but Parris' second one was a straightforward offering to the 'keeper.

Parris, who averaged more than 100 during the competition, was never troubled by the bowling during his 45 until Broomes bowled him ten minutes after lunch.

As it turned out, it was a crucial breakthrough.