Steven Bremar almost won the match for Cleveland County, but ended up losing it with a rash stroke that cost him his wicket just eight runs from victory yesterday.

Cleveland, who were just two points ahead of Flatts Victoria in the battle to avoid the automatic relegation spot, fought back patiently with Bremar, the team’s captain, sharing in some important partnerships in the middle order after St David’s had them in early trouble at 28 for four.

However, just when it seemed Bremar would lead his side to victory, he attempted to pull a delivery from Rudell Pitcher off the off stump and was bowled, ending an 84-ball innings of 53 that included two fours and three sixes.

Bremar’s wicket made it 142 for eight, chasing the 149 posted by St David’s.

Cleveland never reached their target as Pitcher, leading the team in the absence of Justin Pitcher who was working, led from the front by taking the last two wickets of tail-enders Kristian Singh and Byron Robinson with the second and fourth balls of his next over to finish with four for 23.

Luckily for Cleveland, Flatts lost both of their matches on the weekend, to Southampton Rangers in a low-scoring match on Saturday and then to St George’s yesterday to be relegated.

Cleveland threatened to pull off a surprise win here with three match-changing partnerships involving Bremar.

He added 36 for the fifth wicket with Dean Stephens who was caught by Brian Hall in the covers for 16 after hitting a six off Eugene Ball earlier in the over.

Bremar then got good support from Dennis Musson, the team’s former captain, as they added 29 for the sixth wicket before Musson departed on 93 for six in the 28th over, stumped smartly by Dean Simons, who had just replaced Chris Douglas behind the stumps after a water break. Douglas was the bowler.

Shaki Darrell added a quick 19 off 14 balls in a stand of 22 in three overs with his captain, before he was given out leg before by umpire Oscar Andrade, indicating immediately that he hit the ball.

George O’Brien, who like Douglas has only just returned to the St David’s team after both stopped playing because of a team dispute in June, was the bowler, picking up his fourth wicket of the match.

After taking the prized wicket of Bremar, Pitcher sealed the win for St David’s with the last two wickets.

“It was a pretty good game, but I don’t think we got enough runs today,” admitted Pitcher, whose team was also missing Allan Douglas Jr, Delyone Borden, Iyuan Smith and Cejay Outerbridge.

“I felt whatever runs we got we would give it a go and try to defend it.

“It went right down to the wire, some of my players dropped their heads, but I just stayed in and dug deep.

“I said being as I’m the captain today, I’ll take the bull by the horns. It worked out for us, we fought to the end, ‘Warriors’, do or die!”

St David’s finished the match with ten men after O’Brien went off with a slight pull during the crunch period, but not before finishing with figures of four for 26.

“My main aim was to bowl stump to stump,” Pitcher said. “Bremar batted very well today, played a captain’s innings and didn’t give any chances.

“He didn’t play any rash shots until the dying end when he felt he was going to win it in that over.

“The ball hit the top of the off stump. I also brought Macai Simmons back on for the death because I know he’s got heart and will give me his all.”

Chris Douglas was high man in the St David’s innings with 21 from 24 balls while Simmons and O’Brien both scored 19 in the middle order.

The wickets were shared with Stephens, Musson, Darrell and Singh each picking up two apiece.