Stars end their successful season on winning note
Western Stars capped a highly successful season by adding the First Division Twenty20 trophy to their league and Central Counties titles after a 30-run victory over ten-men Devonshire Rec.
Brian Hall, the Stars captain, led by example, scoring an aggressive half century and then claiming three wickets to see his team to a fifth victory over their Central Counties rivals this season.
“The key to victory was to pretty much put our heads down and try to bat out the 20 overs, get as much runs as possible, push through and work as a team till the end,” Hall said. “We won as a team today and it’s been an excellent season.
“The hard work has paid off for us, and next season we will have to work even harder playing in the Premier Division.”
Stars found themselves in early trouble at 21 for three before Hall shared in a vital 41-run partnership with Rohan Davis to halt the slide.
Hall hammered a brutal 60 from 33 balls, which included five sixes and three fours, and brought up his half century off just 27 deliveries before he was dismissed six balls later with the total on 78.
Devonshire were clearly in the ascendancy but their failure to kill Stars off came back to haunt them, as the evergreen Andre Manders and Wayne Campbell added a further 46 runs for the seventh wicket that gave their team’s bowlers enough runs to defend.
Campbell dominated the stand with 27 from 29 balls while Manders scored a rather more sedated 16 from 36 balls.
Kenny Philip led the Devonshire attack with four for 15 while former Stars player Wilbur Burt bagged two for 37.
At 40 for one, Devonshire were well on course in their reply before they lost five wickets for 38 runs and never recovered as wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals.
Ajuan Lamb, dropped slightly down the order, led Devonshire’s unsuccessful run chase with 25. Next high man was Philip who blasted two sixes and looked capable of carrying Devonshire safely home on his broad shoulders before he was run out by a direct throw from Temiko Wilson, the Stars wicketkeeper.
Levar Talbot, who scored 11, was the only other Devonshire batsman in double figures.
Hall finished with figures of three for 11 while Andre Manders took two for 20 with his off break spin.
Western Stars v Devonshire Recreation Club
Sea Breeze Oval (Devonshire Rec won toss): Western Stars beat Devonshire Rec by 30 runs
Western Stars
†T Wilson c R Brangman b Burt 9
N Steede b Philip 0
M Young b Philip 0
*B Hall b Thomas 60
J Robinson b Philip 0
R Davis lbw b Talbot 7
A Manders c R Brangman b Burt 16
W Campbell c Thomas b Lamb 27
J Manders b Philip 1
N Smith not out 0
Extras (lb 3, w 4) 7
Total (9 wkts; 20 overs) 127
R Tyrell did not bat
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-9, 3-21, 4-21, 5-62, 6-78, 7-124, 8-125, 9-127
Bowling: Philip 4-0-15-4; Burt 4-1-37-2; Thomas 4-0-23-1; Talbot 4-0-19-1; Lamb 2-0-11-1; Maronie 2-0-19-0
Devonshire Rec
S Bremar c A Manders b Hall 7
O Frederick run out 2
A Lamb b Davis 25
*†R Brangman c Robinson b Hall 2
L Talbot lbw b A Manders 11
K Philip run out 19
P Thomas b A Manders 6
J Maronie st Wilson b Hall 10
D Williams not out 2
W Burt not out 2
Extras (b 1, w 10) 11
Total (8 wckts; 20 overs) 97
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-40, 3-43, 4-43, 5-61, 6-78, 7-92, 8-93
Bowling: Smith 4-0-28-0; Young 4-1-10-0; Davis 4-2-21-1; Hall 4-0-11-3; A Manders 3-0-20-2; J Manders 1-0-6-0
Umpires: J McKirdy and A Knight
