The big guns of rural cricket, Holmwood Technical, last year's beaten finalists Vere Technical, as well as the formidable St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), bow into action today for the second round of the Grace/ISSA Knock-out competition.

Holmwood Technical, who drew a bye from preliminary Zone D, host Edwin Allen, who had defeated Clarendon College on Tuesday. Vere, fresh from their pre-season triumph in a Clarendon high schools' knock-out competition, host Mile Gully, who had defeated Bellefield by 64 runs after scoring 158.

Headley Cup defending champions STETHS will travel to Lucea to face Rusea's, after that school defeated Green Island on Tuesday. STETHS were spared any first-round sweat after DeCarteret withdrew late from the competition. Five other schools also made it to the second round because of late withdrawals from the competition.

Winners

They include Frome Technical, who host B.B. Coke, winners over Lacovia; Christiana, who host Old Harbour and Glenmuir, who will host impressive first-round winner Manchester High. Munro will host Maldon in a battle of two teams who also profited from the withdrawals of Black River and Maud McLeod, respectively.

Manchester High grabbed the headlines from Tuesday's start of the competition, after their captain, Courtney Allen piloted them to a huge 177-run win over Cross Keys in Mandeville.

Allen, an under-19 national representative, smashed 109 not out from 75 deliveries, as Manchester High posted 306 for three from 35 overs, after being asked to take first strike. Openers Brian Clarke (87) and Oshane Walters (27) also made useful contributions.

Allen then returned with the ball to snatch two for 17 to help restrict Cross Keys to 129 all out in 28 overs. Terrence Dixon (3 for 15) and Kemoy Daye (2 for 15) were also important bowlers as their opponents crashed from 58 for two after eight overs. Leighton Taylor (35), Lionel Gayle (25) and Odean Walters (20) made made most runs.