St Jago High face a monumental task to overhaul STETHS’ mammoth first-innings total after rain washed out most of day two in the ISSA/First Global Bank/GK Insurance Spaulding Cup clash at Melbourne Oval yesterday.
Resuming on 438 for six, STETHS were eventually bowled out for 487 in 92.4 overs, but the weather gods then intervened, allowing only 35 overs of St Jago’s reply before persistent showers forced an early close.
St Jago reached 117 for 2 when play was abandoned for the day, still trailing by a massive 370 runs.
STETHS’ lower order refused to roll over on the second morning. Overnight batsman Adrian Silvera, unbeaten on 28, produced a sparkling cameo of 51 off just 57 balls, helping himself to handy runs before falling as the penultimate wicket to seamer Raheem Willie.
Juwayne Lawson, who resumed on two, could only add three more runs before he was caught by Vitel Lawes off Willie.
Delante Scott chipped in with a brisk 10 before becoming Lawes’ fourth victim.
Lawes toiled through marathon figures of 39.4 overs, claiming four for 179 with two maidens, while Willie was the pick of the attack with four for 58.
Facing a mountain of runs, St Jago’s openers responded positively, posting a half-century stand.
But the breakthrough came with the score on 53 when wicketkeeper Luwayne Pryce fell for 25, caught by Humario Reid off the bowling of Scott.
Samuel Burgher followed cheaply for just five, Reid again taking the catch, this time off Lawson, leaving the score at 75 for two.
From there, opener Danza Hyatt Jr dug in with remarkable composure.
His defiant unbeaten 50 came from 105 deliveries, decorated with five boundaries and two towering sixes.
He will resume on the third morning with Wayne Plummer, who is unbeaten on 19.
Umpires inspected the surface at regular intervals, but with the outfield waterlogged and a persistent drizzle, they had no choice but to call off the remainder of the day’s play.
Play is scheduled to restart at 9:30 a.m. on day three, with all results still mathematically possible though STETHS remain firmly in the driver’s seat.
