Manchester reign supreme in rural cricket
Published:Sunday | April 21, 2024 | 12:10 AM
MANCHESTER HIGH School have now won all there is to win in rural schoolboy cricket, after they got the better of the St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) in the ISSA First Global Bank Rural T20 final at Manchester High School yesterday.
Manchester added to the ISSA GK Insurance Rural under-19 title they won by defeating May Day High School in that final recently, with a 22-run victory in the game’s shortest version.
As it was in the semifinal of the under-19 competition when they outlasted STETHS, there had to be a good all-round display from Manchester who were fought all the way.
Batting first, Manchester amassed 181-5 from their 20 overs, thanks to a smashing innings from Brian Barnes, 40, and Rhevon Morgan, an unbeaten 47. In reply, STETHS gave as good as they got but only managing 159-7 before running out of deliveries in the run chase.
Barnes gave Manchester a strong start, getting them to 58 for one in the seventh over before he was bowled by Kevaughn Brown.
Matthew Morgan then chipped in with 22 to keep the momentum going, taking Manchester to 85-3 before Rhevon Morgan and Demario Hall, 27, took them to 134-4 in the 16th over.
The game was well and truly on when STETHS replied, as Tyriek Bryan, 51, and Brown, 25, got them off to a wonderful start.
At 74 without loss in the 10th over, Manchester must have been worried.
However, a flurry of wickets that left their opponents, 110-5, derailed the innings.
Bryan could not be faulted for his efforts for STETHS, with his bowling reaping 3-25 before his half-century effort. However, Matthew Morgan, whose 22 was under par for a player of his ability, took 2-21 in a crucial spell to keep STETHS at bay.
Tacky High finished the competition in third place after May Day had earlier forfeit their playoff game.
Manchester will now play urban champions Excelsior for the Spalding Cup, a symbol of schoolboy cricket dominance, as well as go into the Super 8 All-Island T20 competition, possibly with a chance of mining four titles.