Somerset Cricket Club (Willow Cuts won toss): Willow Cuts beat Somerset by 73 runs

Two teams travelling in opposite directions continued to do so at Somerset Cricket Club, as Willow Cuts continued their ascendancy as a Logic Premier Division outfit to be feared, while Somerset displayed themselves as at least a class below and sorely lacking.

The result of such a clash of opposites was as definitive as it was predictable, with Cuts trouncing their neighbours by 73 runs in a match delayed three hours by rain.

For Cuts it was their second straight league victory of the new campaign, while Somerset lost heavily for the second time in succession. Initially, however, matters appeared anything but rosy for the visiting side as medium pacer Justin DeSilva struck a salvo for the home side, taking the wicket of opening batsman Ricardo Brangman for a seven-ball duck.

Yet the sensation of success would be short-lived as fellow opener Shaquille Jones and number three Chris Douglas set about rectifying things with a 96-run second-wicket partnership that would prove more than adequate.

Douglas was fluent, crisp and unmerciful, while Jones stood resolute in support, the former striking out for 11 boundaries and a six in his 87-ball knock worth 85. Jones would tally 30 from 32 balls before he was undone by Joshua Gilbert, who was surprisingly the sixth bowler used.

Again Somerset would have to toil for another breakthrough as Douglas found more than adequate help in the likes of Deunte Darrell, the pair carrying the total to 151, when Douglas departed as another Gilbert victim.

Darrell would carry his bat through the remainder of the innings, ending at 27 not out, including four fours and a six.

The end for Cuts came after 32 overs as a result of rain, with their total 164 for six.

Gilbert ended as the most successful bowler for Somerset, taking three for 31, while Justin Corday grabbed two-for-18 from seven overs.

With the Bermuda Cricket Board having apparently abandoned the Duckworth-Lewis method, Somerset were granted a similar 32 overs to chase Cuts’ total ... and would fail as miserably as the falling rain. Thus set a target calling for a little more than five runs per over Somersets prime weakness was exposed.

A batting line-up bereft of any frontline batsmen with strokemaking ability, became tied down early by the Cuts bowling despite the small confines and were never able to break free from the doldrums.

As it was each time a Somerset bat attempted to get rid of his shackles it seemed they got out.

To emphasise this futility it took more than 16 overs for Somerset to hit a boundary of any sort, Jordan DeSilva, who top knocked for Somerset with just 18 earning the “honours”.

Despite not taking a single wicket, Kevon Fubler set the groundwork for Willow Cuts, bowling his seven overs consecutively and giving up only ten runs in the process. This proved a great foil for Malachi Jones, whose pace seemed to terrify the home batsmen, as he took three for seven.

Three other bowlers used managed two wickets, with Deunte Darrell seizing two for 21, Micah Simons turning figures of two for 15, while Sheroy Fubler managed two for 24.

Kevon Fubler provided perhaps the most spectacular highlight in the field, his twisting, turning, acrobatic one-handed catch at deep midwicket to dismiss Raul Khan worth the price of admission.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed that Fubler has had his suspension from the grounds partially lifted, allowing him to play matches, but still denying the player any other access to the facility beyond match days.