Lord’s (St David’s won toss): St David’s beat Bailey’s Bay by 30 runs

Champions St David’s made it five league wins out of five yesterday when George O’Brien’s four-wicket burst made sure that 183 was more than enough to defend against their Eastern Counties rivals.

Bay did the hard part in restricting St David’s to a total of under 200 as Kyle Hodsoll led the way with four for 27 off eight overs. And while the visitors were well placed at one stage at 88 for two midway through their overs in reply, St David’s called on O’Brien again and he removed opener Terryn Fray in the first over of his second spell after switching to the northern end.

Fray, who survived a confident caught-behind appeal off Justin Pitcher when Bay were 50 for two, was the top bat for them with 37 during a two-hour stay at the crease. After losing opening partner Malachi Jones for 21 when the score was 30 in the sixth over, and then new batsman Sinclair Smith in the next over — bowled by O’Brien — Fray shared in an important third-wicket stand of 57 with captain Rodney Trott.

However, Trott’s dismissal for 26, leg-before to Delyone Borden, proved a vital breakthrough for St David’s as Bay went from 88 for three in the 25th over to 106 for five by the 30th. Tre Govia was run out at the far end following a direct hit from Ankoma Cannonier’s throw from third man to make it 97 for four and then nine runs later Fray was bowled by O’Brien.

After O’Brien had Derrick Brangman caught by Delyone Borden at backward point, spinner Dion Stovell followed up with the wickets of Dennico Hollis and Zeko Burgess to leave Bay wobbling at 138 for eight. Stephen Outerbridge offered some resistance with 14 and was just set to take on the challenge of scoring 30 runs in the last six overs when he was last out, bowled by O’Brien in the first over of his third spell back at the club end.

O’Brien finished with impressive figures of four for 28 from 8.3 overs with two maidens while Stovell took two for 23 off ten overs. Cejay Outerbridge and Justin Pitcher both took one for 30 and Borden one for 26.

“They were coasting a bit and then we had an important run out that broke up a partnership that was starting to form,” said captain OJ Pitcher. “Run outs are definitely key. George showed his quality, is in better shape this year, and is bowling extremely well. He is changing games for us.

“Also, Dion Stovell bowled well, ten overs for about 20 runs, and Delyone bowled well today. It’s been a team effort, things are happening for us and we’re on a high. There’s a saying that winning becomes a habit and I believe in that saying.”

After winning the toss and opting to bat, St David’s lost three wickets by the ninth over to be 25 for three. Chris Douglas then shared in an 80-run stand for the fourth wicket with Stovell as they brought up the 100 and then were separated in the 27th over when Rodney Trott removed Stovell for 34. Douglas hit five fours to lead the batting with 54 before he was fifth out on 119 in the 31st over.

Cousin Allan Douglas then hit a brisk 37 from four sixes before a late slump saw St David’s lose their last three wickets for just eleven runs as Rudell Pitcher, who scored a useful 40 not out in the tail end last weekend against Southampton Rangers, did not get the chance to offer late resistance again as he quickly ran out of partners to be left on three not out.

Supporting Hodsoll in the Bay bowling was Rodney Trott with two for 25 and Zeko Burgess with two for 46.

“Chris Douglas again showed his class, he’s had a very good start to his season after coming back late [from school],” Pitcher added. “Dion hung around and got a few, Allan showed his quality and we never feel like we’re in trouble because we have so much faith in each other.

“People are saying it wasn’t a big total, yes, but at the same time it’s a big field, the ball was doing something on the wicket so we felt we had a decent enough total. Yes, we were disappointed not to bat the 50 overs, but runs on the board is always pressure on the team coming in, especially with a bowling attack like we’ve got.”