Cleveland County's major plans to lift the Eastern Counties Cup from St.

David's blew up very early at Lord's on Saturday.

Sent in by James Pace on a damp wicket, Cleveland lost their most in-form batsman, skipper Peter Philpott, with the score seven and never recovered.

Stalwart Allan Douglas came in when the score was 61 for three and before he could fully display his strokeplay, the challengers crashed to 119 for nine and out of serious contention.

The meagre total was never going to be a challenge for St. David's and the 28 extras Cleveland conceded underlined their misfortune after going so close last year.

The Harris Bay boys gave St. David's their best game in 1992 and may have been champions going into Saturday but for a dropped catch.

The anticipated rematch, however, was a disappointment -- and it could have been worse had St. David's held their early catches.

Grant Smith, a century-maker last season but out of touch through most of this campaign, was put down by Albert Steede at mid-off when his and the total read four.

Then, Wendell Smith, recalled to open the batting with Anthony Foggo, dropped Jermaine Postlethwaite twice at second slip -- the bowler on each occasion was the dreadlocked Herbie Bascome.

Bascome did his own dirty work earlier by bowling Philpott for two to send St.

David's on their way.

While Steede atoned for his mishap with two spectacular catches, Smith spent most of the Cleveland innings on the side after experiencing stomach discomfort.

Smith would later recover to bat, but the Cleveland ache was permanent with Grant Smith (12) playing early at Bascome and checking a drive to Pace at short mid-off when the score was 33.

After his double let-off, Postlethwaite looked the most accomplished of the Cleveland batsmen. His defence looked sure and he played some nice drives back past the bowler for four.

He and vice-captain Aaron Adams took the score to 61 when the latter was out for 23. Adams cut hard at a Lionel Cann delivery and Steede snapped him up at gully in lightning fashion.

If the suddenness of Adams' dismissal did not break Cleveland's back, then the ease with which Postlethwaite went had to.

Left-arm leg-spinner Reginald Pitcher took the first of three wickets with a simple return catch as Postlethwaite attempted to turn the ball to the on side and succeeded in only lobbing the ball to the bowler.

Postlethwaite's 28 came in 106 minutes and included a five and three fours.

Cleveland would lose three more wickets before lunch as Cann yorked Wayne Smith for seven, Steede dove full length fo catch Curtis Jackson at short mid-wicket off Pitcher for five and Johnny Richardson was bowled round his legs by Pitcher for one.

Douglas was helpless at the other end but the situation at 93 for seven was not dire yet as number nine Toby Trott was considered one who could hold his end.

But after a 21-run stand, Trott (eight) apparently forgot his role and George Cannonier took a well-judged catch running away to extra cover as the left-hander tried to get James Pace away.

Two run-outs ended Cleveland's innings, the first the result of fine fielding by Herbie Bascome who threw from deep square leg to Pace at the bowler's end to dismiss Diallo Sharrieff.

The second was more comedic as non-striker Douglas started down the wicket after last man Andre Smith played the ball just to bowler Pace's left.

The St. David's skipper picked it up and whipped off the bails, Douglas' innings ending on 31. He hit two fours and a six in 98 minutes.

Pitcher finished with three for 35 from 13 overs, Bascome two for 32 and Cann two for 36.

Desperate Cleveland turned to spin as early as the fourth over of the St.

David's innings when Philpott replaced Andre Smith at the club end. And in the seventh over, Johnny Richardson came from the Lord's end for Sharrieff.

They were aggressive with men around the bat throughout, but the ease that Foggo and Wendell Smith put on 31 for the first wicket showed Cleveland would have a struggle.

Foggo was out for eight when he dragged a Philpott delivery onto his stumps.

Shea Pitcher made a mere five but he put on 26 with Smith before becoming the only victim of the close field -- caught at silly point off Philpott, who finished with two for 31.

Wendell Smith was bowled for 32 by a Trott shooter after hitting four fours in 84 minutes to leave St. David's 75 for three, but there was never cause for worry.

Surprise number four Cann and Albert Steede took the fight out of Cleveland with 33 runs for the fourth wicket.

Cann was largely contained in his 58 minutes at the wicket. And in the over he hit his only six, he was also out for 16, skying one to Adams at mid-off against recalled Sharrieff.

Steede scored a bulk of the runs at the end as victory was imminent and when he cut Sharrieff through backward point for four to reach 43, Cleveland's feeble challenge was officially over.

WELL DONE, SKIP -- Herbie Bascome, left, congratulates James Pace after Allan Douglas is run out to end Cleveland's innings.