SANTA CRUZ, Jamaica — While acknowledging that St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) have command of the all-island ISSA/GraceKennedy Spalding Cup cricket play-off, the Excelsior High coach says he is left with a “bitter taste” because of what he felt was negligence on the part of the organisers.

At the end of a drama-filled, rain-truncated day at STETHS Sports Complex, highlighted by a historic 239 from the hosts’ Captain Tyriek Bryan, Excelsior were 16 without loss in their second innings and trail by 185 runs entering Friday’s final morning of the three-day contest.

The visitors’ left-handed openers David Dewar and Geovanni Grey reached eight and four, respectively, before a torrential downpour caused umpires to call an early tea break at 3:02 pm. Eventually the match officials decided no further play was possible for the day due to further spells of light rain and wet bowlers’ run-up at both ends.

The GK General Insurance rural area Headley Cup at the venue earlier this month was similarly affected by rain, with STETHS emerging champions after sealing first-innings honours over Manchester High.

The outcome will be the same in the Spalding Cup contest if no outright victor emerges.

STETHS had, earlier in the day, secured a 201-run, first-innings lead when Bryan piloted them to 328 all out in response to Excelsior’s first-innings score of 127 on Wednesday.

Scores: Excelsior 127 & 16-0; STETHS 328.

Kirkland Bailey, the Excelsior head coach, was left fuming as he watched his side’s chances of pulling off an unlikely comeback dim even further as puddles of water settled just beyond both ends of the pitch.

“The [protective] covers at the ground are not good because today the rains came for about 45 minutes and the run-up is soaked — and that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. You come to play the Spalding Cup and you expect there to be good covers at the venue that they [ISSA] choose,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

“The powers that be chose STETHS to play the game but I’m not sure they ensured that STETHS has the proper facilities to host a game of this magnitude, because these covers really leave a lot to be desired. And especially after what happened in the Headley Cup… I expected ISSA to have been proactive to get a venue that would’ve handled [the rain that came],” he reasoned.

Bailey was critical of his team’s effort in the fielding after they missed a few chances, including off left-hander Bryan.

“It was a tough day with the ball… but I must say we fielded poorly today, and that resulted in the captain breaking the record for the Spalding Cup, if what I’ve heard is right… and I must commend him for his performance.

“The STETHS team is in charge now but if we do get a chance to play again — the rain came early today — we are going to express ourselves and live with the result,” he said.

STETHS Head Coach Carl Wright told the Observer he was satisfied with his team’s position, which was set up by Bryan’s “brilliant” knock.

“Tomorrow, we just want to come out and see if we can finish off the game. We had rain this afternoon and lost a lot of play,” he said.

He insisted his team will go after an outright win if the opportunity presents itself.

“We’re in a position where we don’t have to go hunting — they would have to come at us. And if they do that and give us [a target to chase], once it’s in our reach we’ll go for it, but we are definitely comfortable with the position that we are in,” Wright said.

On Thursday Bryan, a Jamaica youth player, added greater attacking intent to the immense patience he displayed on Wednesday to tally 24 fours and eight sixes in his 319-ball knock.

He shared in a 156-run, fifth-wicket stand with Kevaun Brown (31).

Excelsior’s bowling was led by Nicoli McKenzie who took 6-93.

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

Match officials and organisers eventually agreed to reschedule the start to ensure no playing time was lost because of the embarrassing foul-up.

— Sanjay Myers