ST Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) batted themselves into a formidable position on the opening day of the ISSA/Grace all-island Spalding Cup cricket play-off match at Melbourne Oval.

STETHS closed Wednesday on 438-6 as Ryan Lyttleton hammered an even 100, inclusive of six fours and four sixes off 79 deliveries, before he retired hurt.

Captain Tyriek Bryan earlier set the tone with 79 runs, while Shahiri Jaddo (77) and opener Jermari Bryce (66) also added half-centuries. Adrian Silvera is not out on 28, while Juwayne Lawson is on two entering the second morning of the scheduled three-day clash today.

Vitel Lawes led St Jago High’s bowling with 3-154.

Bryan, who singled out Lyttleton for scoring his first century of the season, said the overall batting performance “was really good” as STETHS look to retain the Spalding Cup.

Lawes, the St Jago captain, conceded it was a “rough day in the office” but said his team will “continue fighting” all the way.

Earlier, back-to-back rural area Headley Cup champions STETHS won the toss and opted to bat first in mostly cloudy conditions. They lost Humaro Reid, caught by Danza Hyatt for a duck inside the opening over bowled by West Indies Under-19 left-arm wrist spinner Lawes.

The stage was set for a match-defining battle between standout Jamaica youth left-hander Bryan and the wily Lawes, a star at the 2026 Under-19 World Cup.

Bryan, with Bryce as his able ally, forced Lawes and urban Grace Shield winners St Jago onto the backfoot with a 143-run stand for the second wicket.

However, it was Lawes who eventually made the breakthrough when he dismissed Bryan thanks to Samuel Burgher’s one-handed catch just inside the long-off boundary. Bryan faced 110 balls and struck eight fours and two sixes.

It was 169-3 when Burgher trapped Bryce leg before wicket and Odane Binns (37) fell to the bowling of Rajiv Bacchus at 209-4 as St Jago desperately tried to get back into the contest.

Lyttleton’s swashbuckling innings ensured STETHS remained in the driver’s seat. He added 171 runs with Jaddo for the fifth wicket. By the time Lyttleton went off the field due to cramps and Jaddo, who thrashed eight fours in his 93-ball knock, was bowled by Raheem Willie, STETHS were well and truly in command at 383-5.

Just before the day’s end, Lawes had Jerome Taylor (22) caught by Luwayne Pryce with the score on 435. But Silvera and Lawson ensured there was no further loss for STETHS as light faded in late afternoon.

— Sanjay Myers

Vitel Lawes of St Jago High bowls during the ISSA/Grace all-island Spalding Cup cricket play-off match against St Elizabeth Technical at Melbourne Oval on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

St Elizabeth Technical’s Tyriek Bryan drives the ball on the first day of the ISSA/Grace Spalding Cup cricket match versus St Jago High at Melbourne Oval on Wednesday. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)