Harris Senior (right), assistant manager, credit, First Global Bank, presents the Grace Headley Cup to Derval Green, captain of the STETHS cricket team, at the end of the final against Manchester High School at Alpart yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Nina Chang-Strong, business development officer, First Global Bank and Lt Col Errol Johnson, chairman of the Grace Headley Cup. (Photo: Lionel Rookwood)

Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth - St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) duly secured the all-rural 2008 Grace Headley Cup title yesterday, despite having to be content with a draw in their rain-affected three-day final against Manchester High at the Alpart Sports Club.

It was the 21st title for STETHS in 49 years of Headley Cup competition. STETHS, who are defending champions of the all-island Spalding Cup, will now bid to defend that title against urban Grace Shield champions Eltham High at a date to be announced.

Scores at yesterday's close: STETHS 126 and 249-3 declared; Manchester High 106 and 3-1.

Having secured first innings advantage on the second day, STETHS resumed their second innings yesterday at 71-1, boasting an overall lead of 91 with nine wickets standing.
They suffered an early setback, losing Mackoy Ewart (41) with only five runs added.

But skipper Derval Green (91), who was also the captain of the Jamaica Under-19 team last year, took charge of a third wicket partnership worth 135 - interrupted by an 80-minute rain break - with Maverick Perry, 75 not out. That stand effectively eliminated any thoughts of a come-from-behind win for Manchester High.

Green, a polished, diminutive right-hander, smashed five sixes and four fours in his 106-ball knock before being run out as he pushed towards what surprisingly would have been only his second century in schoolboy cricket. The first was also scored this season.

Perry, a slender left-hander, faced 184 balls and hit three fours before the declaration came at Tea.
Manchester, quickly lost Allen Powell (0) to fast bowler Shawn Leslie when the rain came for the final time to put a cap on the game.

A satisfied STETHS coach Clive Ledgister said his team's performance made up for the disappointment of falling at the quarter-final stage of the limited overs competition.

"The past players, school community and fans came down very hard on us for our performance then, but the players looked into themselves and came back and in the end had a wonderful season," said Ledgister.

He noted that the season started with a strong bowling attack. The batting, however, appeared suspect since for the first time in many years, there was no batsman in the line-up with a century.

"But," he said, "the guys came on well and a couple of them got hundreds which helped to boost the team".
Coach of first-time finalists Manchester High, Barry Barnes, felt his team had done "marvellously well" to reach the final, in the process beating teams such as many-time champions Holmwood Technical and a strong Garvey Maceo High.

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