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Robin Walsh

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Grosvenor Grammar School have cantered to their first Ulster Bank Schools Cup with an eight wicket win over Coleraine “Inst”.

In a stop-start final at Muckamore the Belfast school made light work of a reduced target of 93 runs off 25 overs, losing only two wickets with over nine overs to spare.

And for the second day running, North Down’s Alistair Shields was the star of the show for Grosvenor. The previous day he had notched 99 not out in the semi-final win over Limavady Grammar School; this time round he was again undefeated with 43.

Coleraine surprisingly decided to bat first on a day when revised totals were inevitable under grey skies.

At 72 for 2, they started promisingly but when the 40-over innings was reduced to 36 things went seriously awry. Once Scott Campbell had departed for 37 and Rishi Chopra for 24 - they had put on 33 for the third wicket - there was total capitulation with none of last seven batsmen reaching double figures.

Coleraine’s all out total of 103 off 28.2 overs was never going to be enough, more the case when a second rain interruption reduced Grosvenor’s target to 93 off 25 overs. The runs came midway through the 15th over and Shields’ quick fire knock included two sixes and five fours.

There was no doubting the better side with Grosvenor’s fielding the sharper and their batting the more purposeful . The victory completed the resurgence of the sport at the school, hardly surprising since two of the teachers just happen to be Kyle McCallan and Andrew White - the two most capped players in the history of Irish cricket.

SCOREBOARD:
Coleraine Academical Institution:
S Campbell c Gibson b Rae 37
P Douglas run out 10
M Douglas b Lindsay 3
R Chopra c Cahoon b Rae 24
M MacRaild lbw b Rae 3
M Smyth c Smyth b Carser 2
C Ferguson run out 2
H Khan b Shields 0
R Hand forth b Shields 5
C Smith c Shields b Irvine 1
C Currie not out 1
Extras 15
Total (28.2 overs) 103
FoW: 1-18, 2-39, 3-72, 4-85, 5-88, 6-92, 7-92, 8-93, 9-99, 10-103

Bowling:
P David 5-18-0
A Shields 7-18-2
M Lindsay 4-19-1
C Rae 8-26-3
M Cahoon 1-4-0
P Carser 2-7-1
S Irvine 1.2-7-1

Grosvenor Grammar School:
S Smyth run out 22
A Johnston b M Smyth 3
A Shields not out 43
S Irvine not out 7
Extras 18
Total (15.4 overs) 93 for 2
FoW: 1-10, 2-54

Bowling:
M Smyth 5-31-1
R Chopra 4-28-0
S Campbell 5.4-22-0
P Douglas 1-9-0