Kwame Tucker stroked an unbeaten ton and Stevie Lightbourne an unbeaten 92 while promising young all-rounder Ramen Wijerwarena grabbed four wickets to inspire Southampton Rangers to their first win of the season at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Finally breaking out of their early season slump, Rangers thrashed Bailey?s Bay by seven wickets.

Tucker recorded his first century of the season (108 with 13 fours and a six) in Rangers? first innings as the home side scored 253 for six in their allotted 70 overs at the crease ? a lead of 17 runs.

Others making contributions with the bat were veteran Olin Jones with 36, Wijerwarena (21), youngster Andrew Raynor (16), opener Keith Wainwright (14) and Lightbourne who chipped in with 13.

Teenage spinner Rodney Trott led the Bay bowling with two for 49 while Kamal Trott, Dennis Pilgrim and Tre Govia managed one wicket apiece.

Earlier, Bay posted what appeared to be a challenging 236 for eight in 70 overs in their first innings with Jermaine Outerbridge topping the batting with a polished knock of 70. Dion Ball cracked an even 50, Stephen Outerbridge 44 while Rodney Trott weighed in with a useful 22 after opening the innings.

Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker led his team?s bowling attack by taking three wickets for 48 runs off 19 overs while veteran seamer Gary Crofton had two for 33 and brother-in-laws Clevie Wade and Olin Jones one apiece.

Unlike in their first innings, Bay found runs a bit more difficult to come by in the second innings with the home team?s bowlers managing to keep the bulk of the batsmen under heavy wraps.

Young Rodney Trott led the way with a defiant knock of 49 ? falling one short of a deserved half-century ? while Tywon Burgess grafted 30, Jermaine Outerbridge 16 and opener Jermaine Warner 13 as Bay were dismissed for 158 in 65.1 overs.

Wijewarena proved to be the chief catalyst in Bay?s demise, bowling his way to impressive figures of four for 24 from 11 overs including four maidens. Skipper Tucker offered solid support with figures of three for 27 from 20 overs including a staggering ten maidens while Crofton had one for 41 and Wainwright one for nought from only 1.1 overs, including one maiden.

Chasing 141 for victory, Rangers lost only three wickets, Kwame Tucker for four, Wainwright 11 and skipper Tucker for 20.

Malachi Jones, the son of Olin, remained unbeaten on four at the crease with Lightbourne ? who smashed seven sixes and seven fours in his whirlwind knock ? when victory was achieved in only 18 overs.

Pilgrim had an expensive three-over spell which yielded 24 runs for one wicket while Brent Outerbridge was also expensive, finishing with figures of one for 36 off only three overs.