SANTA CRUZ, Jamaica — Carl Wright was the happier of the head coaches as St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) dragged themselves within arm’s length of taking first-innings honours against Excelsior High in the rescheduled all-island GraceKennedy Spalding Cup cricket play-off.

But even then, Excelsior High’s Kirkland Bailey felt his team remains in the hunt heading into Thursday’s second morning of the three-day contest.

When umpires called play on Wednesday at 5:32 pm — 28 minutes ahead of the scheduled close due to fading light — STETHS were 110-4 in reply to Excelsior’s 127 all out.

Scores: Excelsior 127; STETHS 110-4

STETHS skipper Tyriek Bryan, who is unbeaten on 67, and Kevaun Brown, on 20 not out, turned the tide for the hosts in late afternoon with an unbroken, fifth-wicket stand of 70 runs.

Wright told the Jamaica Observer he was pleased with his players’ effort, after they won the toss and opted to field first.

“We did well to get Excelsior out for that total. We got the ball in the right areas and the fielding was up to par so, eventually, the pressure brought wickets.

“When we batted we were under pressure but Tyriek and Kevaun steered the ship [well]. We are yet to reach their target so we have to take it stage by stage to get a lead that’s big enough to put them under pressure,” he said.

“We just need to carry on and do like we did before, but tomorrow is a new day and everything is different,” Wright added.

Bailey lamented Excelsior’s batting after the opening batsmen began positively, but he believes his team could get right back into the game if they can capture early wickets.

“The openers really laid the foundation… but the middle order fell away, uncharacteristically, and it put a lot of pressure on the lower order,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“It can be a competitive total because we know that once we put the ball in the right areas and get early wickets, we can restrict them for a total below 150 runs — and that could put the cat among the pigeons,” Bailey reasoned.

Earlier, rural area Headley Cup champions STETHS climbed into the box seat after winning the toss against urban Grace Shield winners Excelsior.

Excelsior openers David Dewar (19) and Jamare Daley (27) had started well, adding 44 runs with relative ease. But after that partnership was broken they lost wickets regularly and were dismissed in the post-lunch session.

Captain Demarco Scott offered the main resistance with a top score of 34.

Kevaun Brown led the STETHS bowling with 3-31, with solid support coming from Delantae Scott (2-17) and Adrian Silvera (2-30).

In their reply, STETHS were pegged back early by spinner Nicoli McKenzie who ended the day with 3-32 and threatened to run through their batting. However, left-hander Bryan and Brown battled back with a partnership that shifted the advantage back to the hosts.

Bryan, a Jamaica youth player, showed patience and picked his moments to attack as he lifted STETHS only 18 runs shy of the first-innings advantage with six wickets standing.

The Spalding Cup match began a day later than originally scheduled after the ground staff failed to prepare the pitch and outfield in time, right on the heels of the Easter holiday period.

Match officials and organisers eventually agreed to a Wednesday morning commencement to ensure no playing time was lost because of the embarrassing foul-up.

— Sanjay Myers