League leaders St. George's march on
St. George's 130-2 Leaders St. George's picked up another easy win in the Open League when they inflicted a crushing eight wicket defeat on Cleveland at Wellington Oval on Sunday.
Cleveland could only manage 129, opener Courtney Trott topping their scoring with 37 while Jason Simons hit 24.
Clay Smith, a thorn in most teams' side with the bat this season, caused Cleveland problems with the ball as he took five for 19 from 7.5 overs of spin. Herbie Bascome picked up two for 34 and Kenny Phillip two for 28.
After the early loss of Eugene Foggo, Ricky Hodsoll led the way with 58 not out while Dean Minors, just back from school, got in some good batting practice with an unbeaten 38, including five sixes and a four. Mark Ray contributed 26.
Western Stars 243 Bailey's Bay 156-4 Western Stars bounced back from Saturday's loss in the Knockout Cup with a much improved batting display at St. John's Field.
But they were still denied their first win in the Open League after Bay, the defending champions, held on for a draw.
The plot looked to be following that of the day before when Stars, sent in by Bay, lost their first three wickets for only 42 runs by the 13th over as Treadwell Gibbons, Hasan Durham and Andre Manders all failed to reach double figures.
But matters improved as veteran batsmen Arnold Manders and Ricky Brangman enjoyed their best knocks of the season. Manders stroked six sixes and six fours in his 89 as he and Brangman added 112 for the fifth wicket.
Brangman performed even better, going on to reach his first century of the season -- 106 -- including seven fours and four sixes. He looked to have completed his ton on the last ball before tea when he straight drove Charlie Marshall to long-on where Irving Burgess stopped the ball just before the boundary.
Brangman and Anthony Manders casually crossed for one and when they tried to run a second, Manders was run out. That left Brangman on 98 but he completed the century soon after the break before falling to Clarkie Trott, the most successful Bay bowler with four for 66 from 23 overs. Marshall claimed two for 28.
Marshall completed a good weekend with the bat, adding 50 not out to his 48 the day before as Bay replied with 156-4. Irving Romaine scored 45 not out in an unbroken stand of 84 with Marshall for the fifth wicket while Irving Burgess scored 32. Mark Trott took two for 31.
Willow Cuts 110 Police 114-8 Spinner Kevin Fubler claimed seven for 41 off 13 overs, including two maidens, but his heroic bowling performance still wasn't good enough to prevent Willow Cuts from falling by two wickets at Police Field.
Thanks to a good spell of bowling from opening bowler Freston Hurdle, Police dismissed the visitors for a meagre total. Hurdle took four for 32 off 10.3 overs with three maidens.
Chipping in with two wickets for 10 runs off 12 overs was spinner Peter Philpott.
Cuts lost skipper and opener Dexter Basden (2) with just two runs scored, but the west enders were rescued by a second wicket stand of 39 between Jermaine Warner (16) and Dwight Basden who led their scoring with 27.
However, once that stand ended there was no substantial partnership to follow although Richard Basden defied the attack for a well played 31. Davon Wade was the other batsman in double figures with 17.
Police got a solid start with Tyrone Smith (45) and skipper Dennis Archer (15) putting on 43 in quick fashion. But wickets fell quickly after their stand ended.
Thorne was the pick of the remaining batsmen with 16 while David Greenidge followed with 12 and Daniel Reece 10 not out.
Reece and Hurdle (eight not out) added 16 for the ninth-wicket as Hurdle ended the game with a boundary four.
Winless Devonshire Rec. defaulted against home side Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval after they showed up with only six players.