VERE Technical, despite being 57 runs behind on first innings, fought back strongly on the second day of their WILCO Headley Cup semi-final against St. Elizabeth Technical at Port Esquivel yesterday.
Scores: Vere 175 all out (Sadeek Brown 70, Shane Powell 36, Nathaniel Bennett 19; Wayne Simpson 3-28, Conroy Miller 3-32, Nikita Miller 2-23). STETHS 232 all out and 87-5 (Brenton Parchment 50, N. Miller 15 not out; Jowayne Robinson 2-39, Brown 2-20).
Vere, resuming on 55-2 slipped to 67-4. Shane Powell was first to go, caught by Parchment at first slip off Nikita Miller for 36. Omar Campbell followed four runs later, bowled Parchment for 17.
Duran Whyte and Brown put on 44 runs for the fifth wicket before Whyte went lbw to Nikita Miller for 12. When Brown went, caught Nikita Miller at cover point off Wayne Simpson's bowling for a well-played 70 off 218 balls in 328 minutes including six fours and two sixes, the score was 169-7.
St. Elizabeth Technical, batting a second time and with a first inning lead of 57 soon lost Shawn Findley, caught wicketkeeper Shane Powell off Jowayne Robinson, for 10.
One run later his opening partner Odayne Ewart went leg before to Denva Passley for one. Howard Powell (four) was bowled by Robinson and Rayan Goss hit wicket for four at 44-4.
With the score on 83, captain Parchment (50) was adjudged leg before.
Meanwhile, Holmwood Technical appeared well set to clinch a place in the final after following up their first day batting dominance with a similarly disciplined and brilliant bowling performance yesterday against York Castle at Alpart.
At the close of day two, the Robert Lewis-coached side had built up an imposing 319-run lead, though they were precariously perched at 48-4 batting a second time.
After adding a further 31 runs to their overnight 368 for seven, Holmwood knocked over York Castle for a paltry 128 in 64 overs.
With a 271 first innings lead, Holmwood refused to enforce the follow on and an inspired spell of fast bowling by Vanroy Wallace, along with the growing tendency of the wicket to keep low, gave Holmwood a scare in the last half an hour of play.
York Castle did not help themselves as four catches were dropped, including that of Gary Graham (15 not out) in the day's last over as he skied Wallace to Shane Sewell at cover point. Wallace has so far taken 3-19.
Earlier, allrounder David Powell added a further 10 to end up third top scorer for Holmwood with 71 while sharing a 102-run eighth wicket partnership with Damion Morgan (34).
Powell then proved to be York Castle's nemesis as he took 4-10 off nine overs. Legspinner Odean Brown claimed 3-21 off 23 overs.
Only Richard Hemmings (33) and Instowe Alexander (30) offered any resistance in a fifth wicket partnership of 52. Their departure triggered a tremendous collapse where the last five wickets fell for three runs in six overs.
