Wellington Oval (Cleveland won toss): Bailey’s Bay beat Cleveland by 24 runs

The pace of Kyle Hodsoll swept Bailey’s Bay to victory over Cleveland, despite a late scare from big-hitting opposing captain Allan Douglas Jr.

Hodsoll’s two early wickets set the tone for a convincing bowling display from Bay, as they defended 173 in a game reduced by rain to 34 overs.

Bay had been on the front foot thanks to a fourth-wicket stand of 76 between Stephen Outerbridge, the captain, and Rodney Trott, the all rounder, who both made half-centuries.

But doubt over the outcome briefly surfaced as Douglas, hit a superb 48 from 27 balls to single-handedly drag his side back into the game.

Hodsoll finally had the dangerman caught on the boundary by Coolidge Durham, and later completed the job by claiming the final wicket of Dennis Musson.

The seam bowler was well backed up by Irving Romaine and Trott, the Bay spinners, who frustrated Cleveland with some tidy spells.

Cleveland’s innings got off to the worst possible start when Treadwell Gibbons was out first ball, caught by Trott off Hodsoll. Jason Anderson followed for one to leave them wobbling on eight for two.

Aaron Adams and Clay Smith rebuilt steadily but neither was able to match the scoring rate of Outerbridge and Trott. Adams made 20 from 39 balls, and Smith 21 from 30 balls, before both fell to Delroy Rawlins.

Douglas entered the fray with Cleveland on 56 for four, some 118 short of their target and bogged down with a low run-rate.

Seemingly sensing his team needed something special from their captain, Douglas upped the tempo, hammering a four and a huge six off Rawlins in his first over, and continuing with a flurry of boundaries, as Cleveland blasted 47 runs from five overs.

Suddenly it was game on, with Cleveland now needing 52 from their last ten overs with four wickets in hand. Their hopes vanished, however, as Douglas, attempting his fifth six, picked out Durham.

The game as a contest was now all but over, and Romaine’s late wickets ensured that there was no more nail biting for the Bay supporters.

As eye-catching as Douglas’s innings was, the match-winning batting came in that early-afternoon stand between Outerbridge and Trott: the experienced pair came together with Bay on 37 for three, but took control of the match with some sharp running between the wickets and neat shot placement. Outerbridge made 52 from 56 balls, Trott was unbeaten on 60 from 71, with Lateef Trott adding a useful 22 from 15.

Spinner Tamauri Tucker, with four for 41, was the pick of the Cleveland bowlers.