NAIN, St Elizabeth — Sheldon Samuels and Vaniel Bromfield scored half-centuries, but defending champions St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) were contained to 213 all out by Holmwood Technical on a rain-hit day one of the three-day rural area ISSA/Grace Headley Cup final at Alpart Sports Club yesterday.

Following the trend of recent days in large sections of southern Jamaica, heavy afternoon rains tumbled down in mid afternoon — immediately after the STETHS first inning ended on the verge of tea time — bringing play to an end for the rest of the day.

STETHS, in search of their 23rd title, called right at the toss and chose to bat first on what turned out to be a challenging pitch with uneven bounce and pace, as well as generous movement off the straight for both seamers and spinners.

After being relatively well placed at 130-2 in the post-lunch session, STETHS lost their last eight wickets for 83 runs.

Wrist-spinner Rohan McKenzie, who picked up six wickets against Manchester High in last week’s semi-final, led the charge for Holmwood with 4-70 from 21 overs, the accurate seamer Demar Davis took 3-14 from 11 overs and skipper Jermaine Blackwood 2-53 with his off breaks.

Samuels, a pugnacious right-handed opener with a strong liking for the aerial route, smashed 76 with six fours and a six off 91 balls, while the smooth, left-handed Bromfield, who entered at the fall of the second wicket, stroked 68 off 89 balls and also hit six fours and a six.

The two shared a fourth-wicket stand of 66 in quick time. But after Samuels, who had repeatedly chanced his hand, was trapped leg before by the impressive McKenzie in early afternoon, wickets fell regularly. In fact, Samuels and Bromfield apart, only the tall right-hander Chrishna Graham with 12 reached double figures.

Earlier, STETHS had a good opening partnership of 41 between Samuels and Desmond Jones (7) before the latter edged an away swinger from Davis to wicketkeeper Aldayne Thomas.

STETHS and Jamaica Under-19 captain, the left-handed Paul Palmer, who entered at the fall of the first wicket, was dismissed for two, caught at square leg as he flicked Davis’s deceptive slower ball.

Holmwood, scheduled to begin their reply at 10:00 am today, are in search of their seventh Headley Cup title.