Cleveland County 163/10; Young Men's Social Club 168/1

Ricky Hoyt was the man of the hour for Young Men's Social Club, leaving the side one victory away from successfully defending their 50-over title as they swept aside Cleveland by nine wickets at Wellington Oval.

Hoyt partnered in both of Social Club's partnerships as well as claiming three for 31, as his side chased down Cleveland's total of 163 with ease.

Social, who need to win their last match of the season to be named champions, had an easy day at the office with only Aaron Adams (31), Clay Smith (29), and Courtney Trott (25) the only other batsmen to offer any resistance to the bowling.

Assisting Hoyt in the bowling was Kevin Hurdle (three for 34) and Jeff Tyrell (two for 34)

In response to the total set by their opponents, Hoyt (61 not out) and Damon Rabain (18) put on 68 runs for the wicket partnership before Rabain departed.

And with the introduction of Hurdle to the wicket, the game was all but over with the national team player dispatching every bowler he faced to all parts of the ground on his way to a brisk 69 before Social Club crossed their mark.

Dwayne Leverock was the only bowler who made inroads, taking the lone wicket for 34 runs.

Somerset CC 181;

Police 109

Visitors Somerset Cricket Club enhanced their chances of Premier Division survival at Police Field yesterday, defeating the home side by 72 runs in a low-scoring affair.

Batting first, Somerset were reasonably well placed at 87 for three but quickly slumped to 134 for eight as their middle order collapsed.

Azeem Pitcher, promoted to opener, and Reid Jones added 59 runs for the second wicket but all of their hard work came undone when the West Enders lost five wickets in the space of 47 runs to give Police the upperhand.

Jones smashed eight fours and a six in a boundary-filled –49 achieved off 70 balls in 121 minutes. And he was ably supported by Pitcher whose 37 arrived off 54 balls in 76 minutes and contained three fours and two sixes.

Tailenders Allan Boyce (23 not out) and Joshua Gilbert (12) added a vital 38 runs for the ninth-wicket as Somerset's tail wagged their way to what eventually proved an insurmountable total.

Off spinner Anderson Cumberbatch (three for 21) and left -arm seamer Calab Pierre (three for 43) led the Police bowling, while seamer Rohan Henry and occassional spinner James Celestine had two each before Somerset were eventually dismissed in the 49th over.

In reply, Police's middle order also came unstuck as Somerset's spinners took the match away from their hosts who at one stage were nicely poised at 74 for three.

Getting the Police innings off to a flyer was opener Celestine who hammered three fours and a massive six out of the park off Somerset skipper Jacobi Robinson in a brisk knock of 21 off 37 balls and veteran all-rounder Dennis Archer who belted 33 off 53 balls.

Together the pair added 34 runs before off spinner made the crucial breakthrough when he had Celestine caught at mid-on. Archer fought on and added 26 runs with skipper Garvin Aparicio before both batsmen fell in successive overs to trigger a catastrophic slide that saw five Police wickets tumble for the addition of nine runs as Robinson and Gilbert tightened the noose.

Ozzie Hinds (12) and Nyon Steede (11) added 24 runs for the ninth-wicket to delay the inevitable before Jones, mixing spin with seam, and left-arm- seamer Jordan DeSilva removed the sting out of Police's tail to seal Somerset's well deserved win on the road in the 35th over.

Leading the West Enders' attack was Gilbert who took four for 29 while skipper Robinson, who relied on spin, had three for 23.

Somerset's win, that put a slight dent in Police's Belco Cup qualification hopes, leaves them tied on eight -points with fellow Premier Division bottom-dwellers St.George's who beat Cleveland County by 70 runs in a low-scoring affair on Saturday at Wellington Oval.

League title contenders Southampton Rangers did not play over the weekend due to a scheduling conflict.