Aljoe working to end 10-year Grace Shield drought of Wolmer’s

April 06, 2023
Excelsior High School’s Javier Williams (right) is bowled for nought by Matthew Aljoe (out of picture) of Wolmer’s Boys’ School while wicketkeeper Jose Northover watches during their Grace Shield semifinal at Kensington Cricket Club on Tuesday. Aljoe claimed eight wickets in the match to help Wolmer’s reach the final against St Jago.
Excelsior High School’s Javier Williams (right) is bowled for nought by Matthew Aljoe (out of picture) of Wolmer’s Boys’ School while wicketkeeper Jose Northover watches during their Grace Shield semifinal at Kensington Cricket Club on Tuesday. Aljoe claimed eight wickets in the match to help Wolmer’s reach the final against St Jago.

The last time Wolmer's Boys' School lifted the Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) senior cricket title, the Grace Shield, was in 2013 when former national youth player Delbert Gayle and Denniel Griffith starred for them in the final against defending champions Eltham High.

Fast-forward to the present, and Alex Hinds, Jordan Johnson and Matthew Aljoe have stood out for the Heroes Circle-based school in their quest for another title.

After brushing aside defending champions Excelsior in the semifinal on Tuesday, Wolmer's will face off with St Jago in next week's final at Melbourne Oval.

Off-spinner Aljoe stood out in the semifinal, as he picked up eight wickets in the match, with six wickets for 31 runs in the first innings and two wickets for 28 in the second innings to bowl out Excelsior for 125 and 115.

"It was a good performance by the team, and I got the ball to drift a lot. I am elated on how I executed my skills and am glad that I can help Wolmer's Boys' to reach another final," Aljoe said.

Aljoe acknowledges that he expects a tough final against St Jago, who last won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002.

"I know it's going to be a tough encounter, but we are confident that we can pull off the win because we beat them in the preliminary round this season, and our team is well-rounded."

That well-rounded team consists of Hinds, who has claimed a plethora of wickets this season, along with West Indies under-19 batsman Johnson. They are expected to play key roles in the final.

Johnson slammed 152 in Wolmer's total of 252 in the semifinal against Excelsior.