Manchester advance to Headley Cup cricket final

Western Bureau

Led by a brilliant first innings century (120) from Brian Barnes, Manchester High School marched into the final of the ISSA Headley Cup Cricket competition with an innings and four runs victory over Tacky High at the Content Gardens playfield in St Ann, yesterday.

On Wednesday's first day, Manchester won the toss and choose to field. They made light work of Tacky's batters dismissing them for 117, courtesy of a six-wicket haul from left-arm spinner Jahiem Bartley (6-30).

In reply, Manchester found themselves in a spot of bother at 66 for six. However, Bartley joined a determined Barnes in the middle where they took the score to 129 for six at the close of play.

The pair picked up where they left off when play resumed yesterday morning extending their partnership to 103 and helping Manchester to 237 all out. Aan Ennis was the pick of the Tacky bowlers picking up six for 38.

With first innings points now with Manchester, Tacky had a mammoth task in their second innings but again collapsed to 116 all out. Jordan Pinnock top-scored for Tacky with 30 against Manchester's Denzil Lee who took four for eight.

Barnes said he did what was needed to get his team to the final.

"It feels really good because the team was not doing well at the time. I went out there and executed what the team needed," said Barnes who is looking forward to building on this performance for the final.

"Hopefully, because we know that cricket is played on the day. Whatever happens, we have to keep moving forward putting in the work," he said.

Coach Barry Barnes applauded his youngest son's performance.

"I think it was an excellent innings. When you ask a 16-year-old in his first year of Headley Cup to weather a storm in such conditions I think he batted excellently with Jahiem Bartley who is a bowler but he also batted well and followed instructions. I think they were the reason we got over the line, it was a well-crafted innings and Bartley came back and bowled superb," the elder Barnes said.

Sheldon Pryce, coach of Tacky High, believes his boys let Manchester off the hook, He said they had a good start with the ball but failed to apply themselves with the bat.

"Manchester came with a game plan and our batters just did not apply themselves. When eight batters are out caught (in the first innings) that tells you the application and shot selection were not on point. Again we had them down 66 for six and they got to 200 plus runs. That's where we lost the game," Pryce said.