Lodge fight back on Day 2 after Combermere gain first innings lead

Liam Sealy took six wickets while Shawnico Sargeant picked up the remaining four as Milo Lodge fought their way back into the game on Day 2 of the 2024 Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Schools’ Under-15 Three-Day Championship Final.

Defending champions Nicholls Baking Combermere resumed in a strong position on Wednesday at the Rubis playing field, Brighton, 76-0 and trailing by just 21 runs for first innings lead.

Day 1 hero Jahidi Hinds failed to add to his overnight score of 51 before he lost his wicket to Sargeant. He faced 98 balls, and hit four fours and two sixes.

In fact, Combermere lost their final nine wickets for only 31 runs, finishing 113 all out. Sealy, the Lodge captain, picked up six wickets for 32 runs in 24 overs with his steady off spin, while Sargeant grabbed 4-21 in 22.3 overs.

Facing a deficit of only 16 runs, the Lodge lads lost the early wickets of Levi Rowe for duck and Josiah Debois for one to find themselves in early trouble.

Malikai Mason, batting at number four, was able to release some of the pressure as he scored 20 before he was out caught to the bowling of Justin Parris.

Opening batter Shakobi Gittens, 25 not out, and Sargeant, 12 not out, played solid innings as they took Lodge to the end of play at 76-3, leading the game by 60 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Going into the final day’s play on Thursday, Lodge will be looking to set Combermere a total to chase, as the only way they can capture the title is with an outright win. 

On the final day, the Lodge faithful will bank on Gittens and Sargeant to press on, whilst the boys from Waterford will look to the likes of Hinds and Parris to dismiss their rivals and win their second in a row. (ZM)