Finally! - Manchester lift rural U16 title

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Manchester High won a major rural cricket title for the first time yesterday, when they defeated traditional superpowers St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) by 15 runs in Santa Cruz, to take the Inter-Secondary School Sports Asso-ciation (ISSA) Under-16 championship, sponsored by First Global Financial Services.

STETHS were bowled out for 169 as they chased 184 set by Manchester on Tuesday's first day's play.

STETHS resumed on 39 for one and after the first hour, when they hovered on the psychological milestone of 100 runs without further loss, it looked like a historic fourth title this season was on its way.

However, once Manchester made the breakthrough when Christopher Powell had top scorer for STETHS, Odane McCathy, caught for 48 at 99 for two, it began a dramatic reversal that tilted the game in the visitors' favour, as STETHS collapsed to 137 for six at lunch.