Southampton Oval (Warwick won toss): Western Stars beat Warwick by 12 runs

Western Stars picked up their first Premier Division 50 overs league victory of the new season after defeating Warwick in a nail-biter on Sunday.

Key to the win was Tre Manders’s decision to insert himself into the bowling attack at a time when Warwick were cruising towards a modest target, with Kwasi James and Luke Horan engaged in a productive third-wicket partnership.

James and Horan came together at the crease to put on 85 runs, with Horan contributing 34 before being undone by an innocuous, short-pitched ball from Manders that stayed low.

That triggered a collapse with Kyle Swan lasting just four balls before he was caught behind by Jamori Manders and, once James fell to Brian Hall, Warwick were truly in trouble after going from a position of strength, at 98 for two to 100 for five.

Staphen Dill (17) helped to stabilise matters and appeared to have put Warwick back on course, partnering Omari DeShields (8) in a 12-run partnership before both fell in rapid succession, leaving matters up to the tail-enders, who proved unequal to the task, with Luke Fulton left stranded on 11.

Better known for his prowess with the bat, Manders ended as the top bowler for Stars with four for 32, while Rohan Davis took three for 36 and Brian Hall two for 13.

“We had a really bad innings and were in a bad state at 49 for seven, but Brian Hall and Justin [Robinson] really dug us out of a hole,” said an overjoyed and much relieved Manders after the match.

“I have no words for what happened out there today and how we were able to come through. I believe the wicket I got, Horan, was key for us, because he batted well today.

“This is my first win as captain and it feels nice. It was also important for us to get our first win for the season.”

Veteran middle-order batter Hall’s half-century rescued Stars from a precarious position, having been set in on a damp track after forfeiting the toss through late presentation of their teamsheet.

With opening batter Gavin Manders out through injury, Tre Manders pushed himself up the order, along with Khiry Furbert, but the experiment failed miserably, with Manders managing just three runs before being undone by rival captain Cory Burgess.

A procession to and from the pavilion ensued, with Dante Wellman (8), Jason Anderson (0), Furbert (19), Dionte Dowling (7), Rohan Davis (0) and Seth Campbell (2) following their leader until Hall found a willing partner in Justin Robinson (40).

The pair put on 94 for the eighth wicket, frustrating the Warwick attack, which had been salivating at the prospect of restricting their opponents to a double-digit total.

Leading the Warwick attack were youngster Fulton and James, who each grabbed three wickets for 24 and 32 respectively, while Malachi Jones took two for 25.

The match was held up for several minutes during Warwick’s innings, when Stars protested the reversal of a lbw decision made by umpire Wendy Woodley. She initially signalled Kwasi James as being out but changed the decision after conferring with square-leg umpire Mark McCormack and being notified that the ball had initially hit the bat.

Despite benefiting from the decision, Warwick player-coach Jones was worried by the reversal, as well as an earlier decision that ruled him out lbw, with him believing that the ball had pitched outside leg stump.

“There is no way they should have umpires on trial during Premier Division games, while senior umpires are on the sidelines taking notes,” he said.

“They need to have the best-qualified officials doing our senior matches.”