Hinds, Wedderburn rivalry fuels Wolmer’s success

WESTERN BUREAU:

Wolmer's Boys' School's duo of Alex Hinds and O'mari Wedderburn have a healthy competitive rivalry that has propelled them to the Corporate Area's Grace Shield title and placed the Heroes Circle-based institution into the Spalding Cup against St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

On Thursday, the second of the three-day Spalding Cup at STETHS, both performed creditably for the match to be delicately poised, with Hinds making an even 50 and left-arm orthodox spinner Wedderburn claiming figures of three for 26.

It is with the ball, however, that they want to outdo each other in the rain-affected match.

"It's a good competitive battle between us to see who will get more wickets, so I have to go hunting for the remaining scalps," Hinds said.

The match had been affected by rain, with all-rounder Hinds resuming on 12, and his knock carried Wolmer's to 166 before Wedderburn's bowling helped to restrict STETHS to 97 runs for five wickets when rain stopped play.

"Coming in, we were under a bit of pressure, but I had to stand up and bat to get to a respectable total worthy of defending.

"On a wicket like this, we have the quality spin bowlers to do the job. O'mari Wedderburn and I have the skills to get the wickets needed to win first innings," Hinds continued.

Wedderburn added: "It (bowling) was hard at first, but the skipper and coach had a plan, to bowl at the stumps. We did that, and it paid dividends. I am eyeing a five-wicket haul. We want to get the remaining wickets, to get first innings win in this rain-affected game," Wedderburn said.

STETHS' reply started commandingly, with a half-century partnership from openers Tyriek Bryan and Sean Roye. Wedderburn got the breakthrough for Wolmer's removing both openers - Roye for 22 and Bryan for 33 - before getting Marlon Powell, who was in another building a partnership, for 19.