SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Manchester High’s captain Courtney Allen hit a stroke-filled, 132-ball 149 to carry his team to 344 all out, but former champions Holmwood Technical High School were motoring at 166-2 at the close of day two of their Grace Headley Cup cricket semi-final at the STETHS Sports Complex here yesterday.

Holmwood’s skipper, Jamaica and West Indies Under-19 batsman Jermaine Blackwood on 45 (78 balls, five fours) and Aldane Thomas, yet to score, will resume battle today. The additional day is being allocated to facilitate a result.

Resuming from his overnight 38 not out with Manchester High at 142-5, Allen — who hit a century for the Jamaica Under-19 team in their successful regional campaign last year — carried the fight to Holmwood, slamming nine fours and five sixes. The left-handed Allen got lower order support from Leighton Leslie (22), Jonathan Solomon (29), David Fross not out 21 and Tremaine Smith (20).

Wrist spinner Rohan McKenzie led the way for Holmwood with 6-119 from 33.2 overs and offspinner Jermaine Blackwood 2-100 from 32 overs,

On a second day pitch that was hard and true, Holmwood replied strongly with Marlon Pinnock (73) and Hanchard Hamilton (41) adding 78 in quick time before the left-handed Hamilton was bowled by offspinner Allen’s quicker ball.

Pinnock, a well-organised, no-nonsense right hander and the cultured, right-handed Blackwood stepped on the gas in late afternoon to the delight of the small but vocal Holmwood support. Twice Pinnock forced a delay in play after hitting massive on-driven sixes onto and over the main pavilion.

But in the end, overconfidence got the better of him. He chased a wide delivery from the pace man Leslie — the first ball of a new spell — and hit a tame catch to cover.

By then Pinnock had slammed five sixes, four fours and faced 93 balls.

At day’s end Blackwood had faced 78 balls and stroked five fours.