St.David's CC 149

Cleveland County 92

Humbled Cleveland County skipper Jason Simons was left fuming at Lords on Saturday, and rightfully so, after watching his batsmen shoot themselves in the foot with victory there for the taking in the final of the Eastern Counties.

Set a paltry winning target of 150 at 3.1 runs per over, the challengers paid the price for some reckless batting as Islanders off-spinner Delyone Borden spun his way to MVP honours with figures of six for 35 to inspire his team to a 57-run victory.

After Cleveland dismissed their hosts for a modest total before tea, one sensed that their 27-year Eastern Counties famine was drawing to an end. Yet rather than play each delivery on its merit and sensibly pace themselves to glory, Cleveland's gung-ho batsmen threw caution to the wind and eventually capitulated going after the big shots.

"Our mental approach just wasn't there and the guys didn't apply themselves," admitted Cleveland stalwart Carlton (Pluke) Smith. "We had one hand on the cup and only needed 150 runs to get the other hand on it, but it didn't happen. Scoring three runs per over should've been a walk in the park for us, especially on a big field like this."

Skipper Simons, who was among those guilty of placing little value on their wicket, struggled to find words.

"We threw it away and basically that's all I have to say," he remarked.

The tell-tale sign of things to come materialised as early as the third over of Cleveland's reply when opener Anthony Bascome (one) was bowled by pacer George O'Brien jr off an inside edge from a delivery that was harmlessly straying wide of the off stump. Four overs later wicketkeeper-batsman Patrick Stamp (six) was bowled around his legs attempting to sweep to give Borden the first of his six scalps.

Curtis Jackson (seven) lasted six overs before he chased a Stefan Kelly wide delivery, got a leading edge and was cleanly taken at deep midwicket shortly after being spilled backward of point to leave Cleveland wobbling at 27 for three.

Simons (three) also failed to curb his aggressive instincts as he holed out to midwicket and two overs later, St.David's struck a mighty blow when the watchful Aaron Adams, who hit three fours in a team-high 24, was trapped leg before in front by Borden.

At 46 for five Cleveland's chances were now slim and when guest player Hassan Durham (one) was beaten for pace by the efficient Kelly, who finished with two for 27 off 13 overs with three maidens, the writing was on the wall.

The challengers lost two additional wickets on 69 before last pair Smith (21) and Tamauri Tucker (11 not out) added 23 runs to delay the inevitable before substitute fielder Diego McCallan, son of Islanders' skipper Lionel Cann, took a lofted catch at long on to dismiss Smith who hit three fours off 52 balls in 85 minutes before the curtains came down.

Borden, who was later named the best spinner and player of the series, was again his steady self, varying his line and length and baiting the batsmen into playing suicidal shots by flighting the odd delivery.

The national team bowler said he never doubted his team's ability to defend a paltry total.

"We always believed we could win, and that's what happened," Borden said before being mobbed by ecstatic Islanders' fans. "My stratagey was to get wickets and Stefan (Kelly) did well at the other end to keep them (Cleveland) tied down."

Earlier, it all looked so promising for Cleveland as the champions' last eight wickets crumbled for the addition of 66 runs after the luncheon interval as seamers Jeff Tyrell and Dennis Musson jr, who picked up two scalps in his second spell, shared five wickets between to trigger a massive slide.

At one stage St.David's were comfortably poised at 81 for two with in-form batsman Chris Douglas (54), who added 67 runs with Fiqre Crockwell (22) for the second wicket, in ominous touch at the crease.

Teenager Douglas, who was dropped at deep extra cover and was also the beneficiary of a failed stumping, again showed his enormous potential en route to a maiden Eastern Counties half-century that arrived in the 28th over off 80 balls in 115 minutes.

The national team player hit six fours and a six but threw his wicket away when well set to put the pressure on his team-mates lower down the order as Cleveland moved in for the kill.

Douglas did not field during Cleveland's innings as he sought medical attention for a blow to the mouth from a Musson delivery that stood up from a good length.

Skipper Cann (16) and Borden (13) were the only other Islanders bats in double figures before spinners Durham and Tucker mopped up the tail.

Tyrell finished with economical figures of three for 12 off seven overs with two maidens while Musson, Durham and Tucker had two each.