EXCELSIOR High Head Coach Kirkland Bailey exuded confidence after his team grabbed the ascendancy against Manchester High on opening day of the ISSA Spalding Cup play-off cricket match.

At the close of play on Tuesday at Melbourne Oval in St Andrew, the urban area Grace Shield champions Excelsior were 82-4 in their second innings, an overall lead of 229 runs with six wickets in hand.

Scores: Excelsior 218 & 82-4; Manchester 71.

Bailey said his team did well to take control after falling short a bit short in the first innings.

“We started really positively with the bat, amassing over 100 runs in the first hour, then we fell away a bit,” he said. “I think the [score] we made was under par, based on our talent we have with the bat.

“We stuck to the task with the ball and we dismissed them for a paltry 71… in the second [innings] I think we have lost a wicket too [many] but the score is on the board and we have already asked them to make more than they made in the first innings,” Bailey added.

Manchester High Coach Burtram “Barry” Barnes said his team will continue to fight despite falling behind.

“Excelsior are on top as we speak…but I’m not calling the game as yet,” he said. “I know they are ahead; we have nothing to lose, we just have to get these guys out as early as possible and we have to make a try of [winning] it,” Barnes said.

Earlier, Excelsior battled to 218 all out in their first innings as David Dewar top scored with 81.

Jamare Daley contributed 41 while Cavan Malcolm made 20 not out.

Manchester High Captain Brian Barnes claimed 3-32 while Kelon Jones took 2-3.

In their first-innings reply Manchester were blown away for 71 by Excelsior’s Demarco Scott (4-25) and skipper Michael Clarke (4-23).

Leading by a handy 147 runs on the first innings, Excelsior batted to the close at 82-4 to bolster their day-one dominance over the rural area Grace Headley Cup champions.