Southampton Rangers 250-9

Social Club 249-9

Defending 50-over champions Young Men's Social Club fell to Southampton Rangers by one wicket in the final over at Devonshire Rec in their season opener.

Half-centuries by Keith Wainwright and an unbeaten half-century by Shannon Raynor helped Rangers to victory on Mother's Day.

Social Club, who were without the services of Bermuda opening bowler Kevin Hurdle, batted first on a track that had runs galore.

On home soil, they started cautiously, not losing a wicket in the opening few overs as they attempted to lay the foundations for a formidable total.

This did not last long as Detroy Smith departed with the score at 40, and was quickly followed back to the pavilion by Terry Thomas with the total 43 for one.

After Winston Simmons had gone with the score 46 for three, Clevaughn Scotland and Charlie Marshall went about repairing the innings.

The two laid down a 73-run fourth wicket partnership to take the Bluebirds over the century mark.

And with the same flamboyant shot selection of his self some 20 years ago, Marshall raced to his fifty in spectacular fashion, clipping a ball full of a length off his pads to the boundary for four.

Scotland was next to fall at 119 for three, with Social Club in a steady position.

But when Marshall went after scoring 92, the wheels fell off as they lost four wickets in four overs taking the score from 234 for five to 249 for nine.

In the end, the champions, guided by some middle order batting from Kenny Philips who made 42, made a respectable 249 for nine off their allotted 50 overs.

The pick of Rangers' bowlers was Stefan Dill, who took three wickets for 57 from ten overs, along with Dion Stovell, who took two for 56.

Southampton Rangers came out intending to punish Social Club's opening pair of bowlers as they put on 27 runs in the first three overs.

However, a series of irrational shots put the West Enders in trouble, with Stovell already back in the hut with the score on 41 for three.

It took two veterans to put the game back in their side's favour in the form of Keith Wainwright and Janeiro Tucker.

The two put on a 60-run fourth wicket partnership, to take Rangers to 101 for four.

Wainwright (57) was first to depart of the two, via a run out. And with the game hanging in the balance with the score 155 for six, former St. David's player Shannon Raynor, strolled to the wicket.

Raynor's shot selection and running between the wickets crept the total towards the required 150.

Needing 54 runs from eight overs, Raynor continued to push the run rate along and it came as a fitting reward when he scored the winning runs.

"It went down to the wire," said Raynor.

"It was a tough match but it feels good to get this under our belts early in the season.

"I knew I had to keep calm and do what was needed at that juncture of the game."

"I left St. David's where I had won a lot of trophies, and know I can come to this team and be a winner."