WI local:Lodge two good in the end

Typifying the motto of their famous St. John institution, The Lodge School staged a grand fightback to win the Banks Sir Everton Weekes Under-13 cricket final with a tense two-run triumph over defending champions Combermere yesterday.

Combermere "B", cruising at 75 for three in pursuit of a target of 87, sensationally lost their last seven wickets for nine runs and were all out for 84.

It was immense satisfaction for Lodge, losers in the 1998 and 1999 finals, and after achieving their mission, there were plenty of drinks-non-alcoholic off course-which came courtesy of the tournament sponsors.

"Elated is not the word. After coming here two years and losing, the guys felt that this year had to be it," Lodge coach Clifton Phillips said after the match at the Brewery.

Shamarh Brooks, long acknowledged as one of this country's most gifted young cricketers, was the hero for Lodge with a spell of flighted leg-spin that bemused the batsmen.

Skipper Brooks took four scalps-all embarrassingly stumped by Ryan Herbert after they were lured out of the crease and drawn into a defensive stroke.

"As long as Shamarh has the ball, I figure anything can happen," Phillips said.

"I think he is way above what most players are at this stage. He is a great talent and we have to stick very close to him."

It was another leg-spinner, Jason Goring, who made the vital early strike by having Combermere captain Raydon Toppin stumped for 20.

But even when Krishnan Hurdle was yorked by all-rounder Dwayne Sealy for 23, no one could have predicted Combermre would have lost from their position of 77 for five.

Phillips was one of the exceptions.

"We felt that we had the runs on the board and somehow it was going to happen," he said.

"I knew that once the guys stuck in there anything was possible. At this level, I've seen it happen quite a few times.

"We were worried, but when you want something, you've got to believe that it is going to happen."

Combermere did well to restrict Lodge, who chose to bat first, and also suffered a collapse. From 61 for three they lost their last seven wickets for 25.

Sealy made 18, but Toppin's medium-pace, which earned him three wickets, and two each from fellow medium-pacer Akeem Lynch and off-spinner Stephen Lewis restricted Lodge's advance.

Combermere, however, "panicked" according to coach Roddy Estwick.

"We relaxed a bit and got a little bit complacent," he admitted.

"We did not play the spin well. Shamarh Brooks, who is obviously going to be a wonderful cricketer, came back and bowled really well."

The former Barbados captain, however, said his team could still hold their heads high.

"I have told them that they have to keep working. They have nothing to be ashamed of.

"They have done the school proud. We just need to work even harder and bounce back from this disappointment."