DEFENDING champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and former winners Manchester High School are to meet yet again in the final of the rural ISSA/Grace Headley Cup, scheduled for Tuesday to Thursday at Manchester High in Mandeville.

In the 2025 final at STETHS Sports Complex in Santa Cruz, the hosts claimed the title on the basis of first-innings advantage in a drawn, rain-affected game.

A week ago the two teams advanced from their semi-final games in contrasting fashion.

Hosts STETHS topped Holmwood Technical High School on first innings in a drawn game affected by rain and seepage under the covers. The latter mishap robbed four hours of play on the second day despite bright sunshine.

STETHS all-rounder Adrian Silvera excelled with bat and ball to make the essential difference in guiding the title holders to yet another final.

Scores: STETHS 198 and 28-2; Holmwood 108.

Asked to bat first in overcast, seam-friendly conditions, STETHS battled to what turned out to be a competitive total on the back of half-centuries from captain Tyriek Bryan and Silvera.

Bryan, an experienced left-hand batsman, stayed calm as wickets fell around him to stroke 53 including six fours.

Silvera marshalled the lower order brilliantly while hitting an unbeaten 66 with three sixes and two fours.

Holmwood’s impressive fast bowlers Wildel Bailey (three for 30) and Bryan McInnis (three for 32) did the early damage, while off spinner Romareo Salmon took three for 62.

The STETHS pace attack made early inroads as Holmwood stumbled to 39 for five at the close of day one.

Salmon, 45, with five fours and two sixes and McInnis led a brief but spirited revival for Holmwood on the second afternoon following the long delay due to seepage.

But once their partnership was broken by Bryan’s offspin the innings folded.

STETHS pacer Eckoney Robinson took 3-18, with major support coming from left-arm seamer Silvera (3-30) and Bryan (2-11).

With a lead of 90 runs, STETHS reached 28-2 batting a second time when heavy, prolonged rain had the last say.

At Manchester High, afternoon rain on both days played a decisive role in the drawn encounter between the hosts and Tacky High School
— preventing a result even on first innings.

Manchester High advanced to the final ahead of St Mary-based Tacky High by virtue of a superior ranking entering the semi-final round.

Demario Hall’s century and Tesfah Ward’s half century led the way for the hosts against Tacky in the rain-ruined contest.

Scores: Manchester 260; Tacky 59-1.

After being asked to bat first, Manchester High lost early wickets, but Hall (104) and Ward (69) batted cautiously to build a fourth-wicket partnership of 150.

Hall stroked 11 fours in his 231-ball knock, while Ward faced 169 balls, hitting four fours and a six.

A dramatic collapse followed their separation at 225 for four
— six wickets falling for 45 runs.

Shavaughn Boyd, Tacky’s 15-year-old wrist spinner, was the chief destroyer, taking 5-27 from 17 overs.

Tacky High, with visions of a come-from-behind upset on first innings, were 59 for one when rain brought an end to the game.

Devontae Miller made 29, while Tyson Gordon, on 16, and Jiovanni Richardson, on three, were unbeaten at the close.

— Garfield Myers