Allan Douglas Jr blasted his way into form with the bat to lay the foundations for Southampton Rangers’ 38-run win over Somerset Cricket Club in the Premier Division Twenty20 competition at White Hill Field yesterday.

The all-rounder struck 50 from 20 deliveries during an explosive innings that included six sixes and two fours.

Somerset all-rounder Dalin Richardson bore the brunt of Douglas’s vicious assault as the middle-order batsman hammered 32 runs off the seam bowler’s one and only over from the southern end of the spacious ground.

Douglas dominated a 78-run fourth-wicket partnership with fellow all-rounder Charles Trott that virtually put the match beyond Somerset’s reach.

“I was feeling good and they were bowling in the right areas for me,” Douglas said. “I didn’t think about it too much; I just wanted to be a freethinker and go out there and play my game. That’s what the coach asked for and that’s what I did.”

Rangers elected to bat after winning the toss and got solid contributions from opener Dion Stovell, who stroked 45 from 38 balls and Trott, who survived what should have been a regulation catch in the deep, scoring 36 from 32 with two fours and as many sixes.

Stovell, who hit four fours and two sixes, and added 31 for the third wicket with Douglas, was unfortunate not to reach a half-century after chopping a Kamau Leverock delivery onto his stumps to give the latter his first wicket on his debut for his new club.

Opener Shannon Raynor (13) and No 3 Tre Manders (10) made starts but were unable to go on as they were both held in the covers attempting to accelerate the run rate.

Greg Maybury Jr claimed two for 16 during his second spell and fellow seam bowler Jordan DeSilva, the Somerset captain, two for 36 to lead the attack.

Somerset made an explosive start to their run chase as Leverock, promoted up the order to opener, scored 24 runs all in sixes off the first over of the innings bowled by Malachi Jones, the Rangers captain.

But the momentum shifted the next over after Leverock was caught behind by wicketkeeper Najiyah Raynor off the bowling of seam bowler Nirobi Mills.

Stovell then ignited a massive slide with his off spin which led to Somerset slipping to 88 for six after losing five wickets in the space of 41 runs and six overs.

Isaiah Richardson, the nephew of Somerset coach Jeff Richardson, and Jerez Eve produced aggressive knocks lower down the order but the damage had already been done.

Richardson stroked 22 from 14 balls with two fours and a six and Eve an unbeaten 17 from 22 balls that included two fours.

The pair added 22 runs for the seventh wicket before Janeiro Tucker, the Rangers player-coach, mopped up the tail to clinch the defending champions’ third straight win.

Leverock topped the Somerset batting with his 24 arriving of eight balls while Alje Richardson, the son of Somerset coach Richardson, struck two fours and a six in an aggressive knock of 20 from 21 balls.

Stovell led the Rangers attack, claiming three for 16 to cap a fine all-round display. Tucker and Mills provided solid support as they took two wickets.

Premier Division Twenty20

Southampton Rangers v Somerset

White Hill Field (Southampton won toss);

Southampton beat Somerset by 38 runs

Southampton Rangers

D Stovell b Leverock 45

+S Raynor c Douglas b DeSilva 13

T Manders c A Richardson b DeSilva 10

C Trott c Eve b I Richardson 36

A Douglas b Maybury 50

*M Jones not out 9

J Tucker c Eve b Maybury 0

J Albouy, K Astwood, K Tucker, N Raynor, N Mills, T Smith did not bat

Extras (w 8, nb 1, b 2, lb 4) 15

Total (20 overs) 178

Fall of wickets; 1-34, 2-61, 3-98, 4-166, 5-178, 6-178

Bowling; Maybury 4-1-16-2; I Richardson 4-0-39-1; DeSilva 4-0-36-2; Leverock 4-0-30-1; Johnson 3-0-19-0; D Richardson 1-0-32-0.

Somerset Cricket Club

K Leverock N Raynor b Mills 24

C Douglas c Douglas b Stovell 11

A Richardson b Stovell 20

*J DeSilva c Smith b Mills 0

D Richardson lbw Stovell 8

G Maybury c S Raynor b Smith 12

I Richardson lbw Douglas 22

J Eve not out 17

+T Corday c Manders b Tucker 2

M Johnson run out Jones 8

K Richardson c Stovell b Tucker 2

Extras (w 9, nb 2, lb 3) 14

Total (18.2 overs) 140

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-47, 3-48, 4-65, 5-74, 6-88, 7-110, 8-124, 9-132

Bowling: Jones 4-0-39-0; Mills 4-0-32-2; Stovell 4-0-16-3; Smith 3-0-23-1; Douglas 2-0-24-1; Tucker 1.2-0-3-2.