MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Title holders St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) took a firm grip on the ISSA/Grace Headley Cup rural cricket final after taking a 58-run lead versus Manchester High at the latter’s school field on Wednesday.

STETHS left-arm pacer Adrian Silvera laid the foundation with six wickets as Manchester High were dismantled for 104. Before heavy rain and a waterlogged outfield wiped out a little over a session in the afternoon, left-hand batsman Tyriek Bryan carved out an unbeaten 92 in STETHS’s reply of 162-2.

Scores: Manchester 104; STETHS 162-2.

Carl Wright, the STETHS head coach, said his team was clinical with both bat and ball to seize the upper hand.

“We set out to bowl out Manchester as early as possible and it happened. When we batted we had a plan — the guys played within their limitations and now we have this lead and I’m pretty happy about that,” Wright told the Jamaica Observer.

Barry Barnes, the Manchester High head coach, acknowledged that his opponents have played the better cricket so far, but remained optimistic that his team could mount a comeback.

“I must give credit to STETHS because I think they wanted it more than us. They bowled us out quickly this morning and when they batted their [leading] batsman Bryan played a magnificent innings even though he gave chances. They are trying to bat us out of the game but there is a day to go and it can go anywhere,” Barnes said

Under partly cloudy conditions on the second morning of the scheduled three-day encounter in Mandeville, the hosts continued from their overnight 97-6 with hopes of launching a lower-order resistance to frustrate STETHS.

But instead the defending champions prised the last four Manchester High wickets with minimal fuss.

Silvera, who had 3-24 on day one, claimed another three wickets to finish with 6-26 from 14 overs. On Wednesday, he dismissed Jelon Daley (4), Kelon Jones (0) and Lennox Chance (0).

Pace bowler Eckoney Robinson dismissed Jahdae Moore (5) to finish with 2-10.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Pajay Nelson, who was dismissed on the opening day, top-scored for Manchester with 48.

STETHS openers Bryan and Humaro Reid were barely troubled in their 127-run stand which cemented the Santa Cruz-based team’s dominance.

As the very bleak rain clouds closed in, the patient Reid was run out for 34 from 104 deliveries and Shahiro Jaddo was dismissed for a duck by lively pacer Jahdae Moore.

Odane Binns, on 11, and Bryan arrested Manchester High’s surge until rain halted proceedings.

Jamaica youth player Bryan, batting with poise and control reflecting his senior status in the team, struck 10 fours off 122 balls.

— Sanjay Myers

WRIGHT… the guys played within their limitations and now we have this lead and I’m pretty happy about that

St Elizabeth Technical’s Tyriek Bryan strikes the ball on the second day of the ISSA/Grace Headley Cup cricket final versus Manchester High in Mandeville on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)