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Cup, bowl-off keep Social and Devonshire in thick of the action

Central Counties Cup, Combined Knockout Cup and a Premier Division Two-Day League bowl-off dominates the cricket scene this weekend as the season draws to a close.

Starting today, Central Counties champions Devonshire Recreation Club rest their crown on the line against arch-rivals Western Stars at St.John?s Field in the first of two semi-finals while Police and last year?s beaten finalists Social Club do battle at Police Field.

?We don?t intend to take Stars lightly and if we turn up prepared to play then I don?t see any reason why we shouldn?t be successful,? stated Devonshire coach Ricky Brangman sr.

The eventual winners of today?s fixtures will advance to tomorrow?s final, now slated to be held at St. John?s Field, having originally been slated for Police Field..

Devonshire and Social Club also have unfinished business to settle ? their relegation-deciding Two Day League bowl-off at either St. John?s or Police Field today which will determine who makes the drop down to the First Division.

?It?s going to be a real busy day for us and hopefully things work out in our favour,? added Brangman.

Last weekend?s initial contest failed to get underway after the umpires failed to show.

Turning to tomorrow, Premier Division Limited Overs, Knockout and Belco Cup champions Southampton Rangers will be gunning for a fourth title of the season when they meet Bailey?s Bay ? the previous week?s beaten Two-Day League finalists ? at Lords.

The St. David?s ground has certainly been a happy hunting ground for Rangers in recent times as they have clinched two Belco Cup titles in the past three seasons and then all but hoisted the Premier Division limited overs title with a clutch win over St.David?s last June.

?Lords has always been a good ground for us. Just the atmosphere alone motivates one to play at a high level,? stated Rangers coach Clevie Wade.

?But the guys are ready to go to battle. This is our final game of the season and an opportunity to finish on a high by winning another trophy which is at stake.

?Therefore our aim is to go down there and play good cricket with the hopes of coming out victorious.?

Both teams are expected to be at full strength, in particular Bay who fielded a makeshift squad in the absence of several key players against St.George?s at Wellington Oval last weekend.

?The guys are looking forward to the match and it would be nice to close out the season with a piece of silverware,? returning Bay skipper Jermaine (Manners) Outerbridge told .

?I think our chances are just as good as theirs and we intend to give our all and see what we come up with in the end.?

Outerbridge was among several Bay players who attended the wedding of opening batsman Jermaine Warner in New York last weekend.

Warner is presently on honeymoon and, as such, will miss tomorrow?s clash.

Bermuda?s ICC Trophy and Intercontinental Cup hero Irving Romaine is also expected to return to Bay?s line-up for tomorrow?s clash with Rangers.