Somerset CC 175

Western Stars 179-0

League champions Western Stars crushed Somerset by ten wickets, hardly breaking sweat at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Paving the way for Stars' lopsided win was all-rounder Jermaine Postlethwaite who was in menacing form with both bat and ball.

Postlethwaite claimed three wickets for 26 runs off nine overs, including the prized wicket of Somerset's Wendell White for 15.

The former Cleveland County player then returned to the crease to smash an unbeaten 83 along with young Treadwell Gibbons Jr who also remained unbeaten with an equally solid knock of 70.

The Stars' pair saw their team through to victory via an unbroken first wicket stand worth 179 runs.

Postlethwaite cracked 12 fours and two sixes and brought up his half-century off 90 balls in 62 minutes. Gibbons stroked six fours and two sixes to reach his half-century in 105 minutes off 77 deliveries.

Somerset tried desperately to dislodge the opening pair by using eight bowlers but to no avail as Stars surpassed their hosts modest total in 34.5 overs.

David Gibbs was the least expensive Somerset bowler by giving up only 12 runs off four overs while veteran spinner Randy Simmons came in for some heavy punishment. Simmons finished wicketless, conceding 45 off only six overs while young Jacobi Robinson had none for 35 from 6.5 overs.

Earlier, Somerset got off to a decent start with openers Sheridan Ming (13) and Tony Cheeseman (11) putting on 47 runs for the first wicket. However, that stand would be broken by Stars' seamer Maurice Lowe who seized the first three Somerset wickets to fall.

Shannon Warner (two) then made an early exit three runs later after he was brilliantly stumped by skipper Albert Steede - deputising for the injured Jekon Edness.

Steede would go on to glove two catches - a reminder that he can still keep behind the stumps whenever summoned to the task.

However, Somerset finally found some stability in White and former skipper Shawn Roberts (17) who managed to put on 32 runs for the fourth wicket before Treadwell Gibbons Sr., in for the injured Dwyane (Sluggo) Leverock, had the latter trapped leg before wicket.

But again Somerset refused to throw in the towel with White and number six batsman Shane Hollis (12) adding a further 20 runs for the fifth wicket before the former fell victim to Postlethwaite.

White's departure proved to be decisive and would also ignite a Somerset middle-order collapse as they lost their next two wickets in the space of seven runs with only number seven bat Reid Jones (20) and number nine batsman Simmons (15) able to offer resistance later down the order.

Somerset were dismissed in 49.5 overs.

Somerset also had Stars to thank as the visitors yielded a staggering 57 runs to the extras column.

Supporting Postlethwaite in Stars bowling were Lowe, who also grabbed three wickets for 35 runs and Hasan Durham who chipped with two for 20 from ten overs including one maiden while Treadwell Gibbons Sr managed one for ten from four overs.

St. David's 226-7

Willow Cuts 122

St. David's, one of the Premier League favourites who were languishing in the middle of the table after their first five matches, will be hoping that this comfortable victory is what's needed to give the team the boost they so desperately need.

Yesterday, they again struggled when they batted, losing their first three wickets for 73 runs and were reduced a snail's pace against some tidy bowling.

But once O.J.Pitcher and player-coach Clay Smith joined in a fourth-wicket stand that added 95 runs, the east enders were able to take the initiative.

Pitcher top scored with 52 while Smith added 40 and with fine contributions from opener Delyone Borden (23), Arthur Pitcher (18) and Justin Pitcher (16 not out) they were able to conclude their overs with a formidable total.

Trevor Corday was the leading wicket taker for Cuts with three for 54 off nine overs while Charles Swan, who tied down the bats early on, had two for 17 off 10 overs with three maidens.

Cuts' batting, however, proved to be fragile with nobody scoring 20 runs and just five players reaching double figures.

Opener Dwight Basden was top scorer with 16 while Reggie Tucker struck 15, skipper Richard Basden and Michael Corday 11 apiece and Swan with 10.

Borden ran away with man of the match honours by leading St. David's in bowling also with four wickets for 29 runs off 7.5 overs.

Loren Marshall had three for 20 off four overs and Arthur Pitcher Jr. had two for 22 off six overs.