Eltham, Innswood make push for final

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Eltham, Norman Manley, Innswood and Wolmer's will seek to extend their lead in semi-final round of the urban area ISSA/Grace Shield Premier League cricket competition today and tomorrow.

In Section One, Eltham, the defending five-time champions who got the better of St Catherine on first innings in their first game last Thursday, will play away to A League winners Meadowbrook, who gave up first innings against Norman Manley.

Norman Manley, in the meantime, will travel to John's Road to face St Catherine.

Norman Manley's strategy

"We will be going all out for all five points in our second match and put ourselves in a good position to qualify. We plan to bat and bat, all being well, and try to pile up over 300 runs, then defend it," said Norman Manley coach, Karl Stephens.

In Section Two, Innswood, last year's beaten finalists, who have been the team of the competition thus far, will seek to add to their first innings points claim over Excelsior when they play away to Tarrant, who fell to Wolmer's on first innings in their opening game.

Wolmer's will travel to the Courtney Walsh Oval to play Excelsior.

"Everybody is looking good at this moment. We just want to continue in the same vein as we have been going since the start of the season," said Innswood coach, Kirk Gordon.

"We just want to maintain the discipline, and once the boys do the basics we will be in a good position to come out on top at the end of the second day," he opined.

The matches are scheduled to be played over two days and two innings.

The semi-final round is divided into two sections of four teams, with the section winners slated to advance to the final after round-robin play.

Five points are awarded for an outright win, three for first innings and two for a drawn encounter.

'We will be going all out for all five points in our second match and put ourselves in a good position to qualify.'