Sea Breeze Oval (Somerset won toss): Western Stars beat Somerset by three runs

Western Stars give newly appointed captain Seth Campbell a nervy initiation as he led his team to a narrow victory over Somerset on Sunday.

The captain took matters into his own hands to bowl the last over with Somerset needing 14 runs to win after the match had been reduced to 36 overs after a late start to play

After giving up a six on the first ball as Somerset reduced the deficit to eight, Campbell claimed a wicket with his second delivery and was then able to restrict Somerset to just five more runs as they fell three runs short.

“Overall it was a good outing for my team,” said Campbell as he reflected on his first win in charge.

“We could have been a little more aggressive early in our batting but the pitch was still a little sticky.

“Everybody is a part of the team and today we all had to pitch in and do our jobs, which we did pretty well, so I want to congratulate my team for giving me my first win.”

Stars’ former captain Tre Manders was instrumental in helping his team to post a score of 169 from their 36 overs.

He first featured in a 40-run, second-wicket partnership with Temiko Wilson before the latter skied one and was caught by wicketkeeper Cofield Robinson for 34.

Manders was the rock that stabilised the Stars innings and he carried the team over the 100 mark before bringing up his half century with a six over long on.

With wickets falling around him, Manders finally found an able partner in Khiry Furbert with the two capitalising on some loose bowling by scoring 42 runs off the last two overs.

The pair would put on a healthy 79-run partnership before Azar Morrissey bowled Furbert going for a big hit for 23 runs.

Manders punished Tai Cariah, taking 22 runs off the penultimate over before being last out when caught on the deep square leg boundary off Morrissey for 92 runs, from 101 balls, which included three fours and eight sixes.

Jordan DeSilva had the best bowling figures for Somerset with three wickets for 29 runs. Morrissey took three for 33 and Dominic Sabir two for 24

Set a target of 170, Somerset’s Jermal Proctor and Jade Morrissey opened the batting but could only muster a 17-run opening partnership as the in-form Proctor was caught at mid-on.

Kevin Hurdle then did well to dive and hold on to a return catch to dismiss Morrissey for 15 with the score at 36 for two.

Dominic Sabir joined captain Alje Richardson with the two batting cautiously and rotating strike regularly. Just as the pair looked settled, captain Richardson responded late to a call for a single and was run out for 22 with the score on 64.

Jordan DeSilva would then join Sabir and the two batted with maturity, choosing their shots wisely, but the Stars bowlers started to pin them down causing the run rate to increase to 5.2 runs an over.

With ten overs remaining, Somerset were 109 for three and needed 61 runs to win but strategic field setting and positive encouragement from Stars player/coach Jekon Edness led to the breakthrough

Sabir was bowled by Naquan Smith for 34 and DeSilva would fall for 25 after a good running catch by Seion Darrell in the outfield.

Cariah and Robinson offered some resistance for Somerset, taking the score from 120 to 149 before the former skied deep to long off and was caught.

Greg Maybury joined Robinson, needing 21 from the last two overs to set up a nail-biting finish but, with 14 runs needed from the last over, captain Campbell held his nerve and led his team to victory.

Despite the win, there was one setback for Stars as Brian Hall was a noticeable absentee after picking up a knee injury, but he hopes to be back soon to be in contention to retain his spot in the annual classic.