Lawes’ brilliance spurs St Jago to Grace Shield

In a thrilling final that ebbed and flowed over three days with high-quality schoolboy cricket, St Jago High School emerged champions of the First Global Bank Grace Shield, securing a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Campion College at a tense Melbourne Oval yesterday.

The victory was orchestrated by the indomitable St Jago captain and West Indies Under-19 star spinner Vitel Lawes, whose all-around performance, including a match-winning, unbeaten 74 in the second innings, cemented his legacy as one of the school's finest cricketing sons.

Chasing a gettable target of 168 for victory after bowling out Campion for a paltry 63 in their second innings, St Jago's chase was anything but straightforward.

Early wickets from Campion's Zachary Taylor and Neo Xavier had St Jago wobbling at 90 for five, sparking memories of the first innings struggles.

However, Lawes, who had already claimed a six-wicket haul in the match, walked to the crease with the composure of a seasoned veteran.

He launched a stunning counter-attack, bludgeoning 74 not out off just 74 balls, a knock that featured five boundaries and seven towering sixes.

His unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 80 with Raheem Willie (one not out) guided St Jago to 170 for five, sealing the title with plenty of overs to spare.

GRIPPING FIRST INNINGS

Earlier, the final had been set up nicely, after a gripping first innings that saw Campion post 246, thanks largely to a brilliant 112 from captain Abraham Waugh.

St Jago boldly declared at 142 for nine in their first time at the crease.

With the match finely poised, Campion resumed their second innings with a 104-run lead, but their batting order crumbled against a relentless St Jago attack.

Samuel Burgher was the unlikely hero with the ball, snaring four wickets for six runs from nine devastating overs of tight bowling, while Lawes, two for 22, pacer Wayne Plummer, two for 21, and off-spinner Rajiv Bacchus, two for 12, tore through the Campion line-up.

The carnage began immediately when Lawes bowled Waugh for a golden duck off the very first ball of the innings. Waugh, the hero of the first innings, could only watch as his side was skittled for 63.

Zachary Taylor was the innings' top scorer with 22, while Lloyd made 16.

In the Grace Headley Cup final at Manchester High, which continues today, the home side conceded first innings honours to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in their rain-affected match.

When the rain ended play, STETHS were 167 for two, replying to Manchester's first innings score of 104.

Captain Tyreik Bryan is eight runs shy of a century after he and fellow opener Humaro Reid (34) put on 127 runs for the opening wicket.

Bryan has so far laced 10 fours in his unbeaten 92. With him at the crease is Odane Binns, who is not out on 11.

Earlier, Adrian Weir bagged an impressive six wickets to help restrict Manchester High.

Eckoney Robinson chipped in with two wickets, against a fighting 48 from captain Pajay Nelson.