STETHS captain Donovan Nelson.

Barring an extraordinary last day batting and bowling performance by Manchester High in Santa Cruz today, St Elizabeth Technical (STETHS) appear poised for a sixth straight Headley Cup title, following two days of dominating action in the three-day Headley Cup Cricket final.

Yesterday, STETHS secured first innings honours, which means Manchester must make a push for an outright victory. The Barry Barnes-coached side, however, face a tall order, as they closed on 24 for two, battling a 144-run deficit. Their only chance of victory on today's final day is to clear the remaining 120 runs to avoid an innings defeat and set STETHS a target, hoping the prospect of a wearing wicket and an afternoon chase can upset the champions. However, that simply looked at long odds, with rain likely to play a part in the equation as it did yesterday, when it took away an hour of play.

fantastic record

Despite the odds on Manchester tilting the balance today, STETHS coach Clive Ledgister would not claim victory, one, which would continue his fantastic record of a title in each of his six years in charge.

"This is cricket and you are dealing with schoolboys. We still have one day's play left and a 100 overs to complete," he told Star Sports.

STETHS began the day with their openers' healthy start of 100 without loss, but Manchester would fight back through a telling spell of fast bowling by Christopher Powell, and later through the offspin of Rajni Francis.

Terry Holness, who began on 59, added 14 more runs before Powell got him to nick one behind as the champions lost their first wicket on 131. His partner Odane McCarty went next for 58, with the score on 150, cutting a short ball from offspinner Nicolas Walters to point. Powell would also force a crucial breakthrough at 163, when the champions most noted batsman Brian Gayle went for 25.

Manchester would not make another breakthrough until after lunch when Francis had Khrishna Graham caught behind for 30 with the score on 227, and STETHS 57 runs ahead. The team's captain Donovan Nelson leads a lower order resistance with a top score of 37, and despite Francis having the distinction of claiming six wickets, STETHS had secured an imposing and perhaps decisive first innings advantage.