St.David's 284-7 The streak is over ...

St. David's broke Western Stars' winning run with a scintillating three wicket victory in the final of the Camel Cup at Southampton Oval yesterday.

In what stood out as the ideal postcard for local cricket, St. David's found a way to come through in the crunch against the defending champions, who had not lost a match since the 1999 season.

With darkness threatening to embrace the Oval and four balls remaining in the match, the event of Dean Minors ruthlessly dispatching a Jermaine Postlethwaite delivery over the long-on boundary sprung the Islanders and their supporters into delirium.

St. David's entered the final over needing 11 runs to win, with Minors as the lone recognised batsman at the crease, partnered by youngster Delone Borden.

After exchanging singles, leaving Minors on strike, the new signee decided he'd had enough and dispatched Postlethwaite's third ball -- a no ball -- onto South Shore Road to move the total to 278. And on the next he closed matters out in style with another brutal clout to the southern bleachers.

"By bringing Glenn and Dean into the squad our guys' confidence level has risen to another level and all of a sudden they think `Hey, we're unbeatable,' that's the enthusiasm and motivation those guys add to the team,'' said captain Clay Smith. "Last year Glenn came, he brought us some confidence where we were able to beat the Rangers, the Bailey's Bays, which gave these guys some self belief.'' Nevertheless, while Minors may have struck the winning runs, it was a great team effort that carried St. David's through. Smith led the way with the bat, albeit benefiting from a bit of charity.

Dropped twice while in single digits, the former Cup Match skipper made the opposition pay dearly, blasting 92 from just 84 balls, including seven sixes and four fours.

He and Leandro Minors proved a thorn for Stars as they amassed 132 for the fourth wicket, taking St. David's from 69 for three to 201, before Minors went to a brilliant diving catch by Albert Steede for 44.

Islanders win cup thriller From Page 31 When Smith followed soon after it seemed Stars had finally been redeemed, but Lionel Cann had other thoughts and with a typically rambunctious 47 from a mere 24 balls, swayed the tide back in favour of the challengers, he and Minors adding 54 for the sixth wicket.

The dismissal of Cann and Del Hollis (zero) set matters up for Minors (21 not out) and Borden (five not out).

Yet, in all the ebb and flow, Smith said that he never wavered from the feeling that his team would come through.

"We have a motto that says `The Time Is Now' and that's how we feel,'' said Smith. "Our new sponsors, Conyers, Dill and Pearman, have given us great support and backing and this we hope is just the first of many returns for them.

"This is a very young squad mixed with some first class senior players. Guys like Glenn, Lionel and Dean have all won trophies before, so they know what it's like when crunch time comes.'' Somewhat diminished in all the hoopla was a magnificent century from the bat of Steede, who put on a immaculate display of batting, notching 109 and laying the groundwork for Stars' sizable total.

Supporting Steede in the batting department were Postlethwaite (29), Saleem Mukudem (27), Arnold Manders (21) and Hasan Durham (30 not out).

George O'Brien led the bowling for the Islanders with four for 51, while Borden claimed three for 40.

Both Southampton Rangers and St. George's suffered crushing seven-wicket defeats in Saturday's Camel Cup semi-finals.

At Somerset, teenagers George O'Brien and Delyone Borden each took three wickets to lead St. David's to their emphatic win, dismissing Southampton for just 118 in 41 overs. O'Brien returned three for 13 off 10 overs while Borden claimed three for 21 off six overs.

Ian Armstrong was the top batsman for Rangers with 24.

St. David's coasted to victory, losing just three wickets in reaching their target. Glenn Blakeney top scored with 41 and Landro Minors added an unbeaten 31.

At White Hill Field, champions Stars dealt a similarly crushing blow to St.

George's who could manage only 119 off 37.1 overs, Detroy Smith leading their bats with 29. Veteran Arnold Manders was the key bowler for Stars, taking three for 26 while Dwayne Leverock had two for 18 and Hasan Durham two for 21.

Stars crossed the score with just three wickets down, Saleem Mukudem thumping 51 not out -- including a six and four fours -- and Cleon Scotland finishing unbeaten on 29.

Centurion: Albert Steede of Western Stars steers the ball down through the third man region during his knock of 109 in yesterday's Camel Cup final against St. David's at Southampton Oval.