Wellington Oval (St George’s won the toss): St George’s beat Cleveland by 109 runs

St George’s picked up an important win in their fight against survival in the Premier Division’s 50-overs league, with a comfortable victory at Wellington Oval where captain Onias Bascome scored 131 not out.

St George’s were dismissed for 297 with Bascome, batting at No 5, leading from the front with his century while opener Detroy Smith scored 59 and Oronde Bascome 46.

Cleveland replied with 188, with a controversial dismissal during their innings almost causing Cleveland to abandon the match. Dean Stephens was batting with captain Steven Bremar when Gregg Foggo, a former St George’s captain who now resides in the English midlands and was back for Cup Match, bowled a no-ball which the umpire Steven Caines signalled as a free hit the next ball. The only way a batsman can be dismissed on a “free hit” is being run out.

However, St George’s appealed for a stumping on the next delivery and umpire Mark McCormack, standing at square leg, upheld the appeal and gave Stephens out. Cleveland immediately protested the decision, with Curtis Jackson, their player-coach, coming on to the field to speak with the umpires. After a few minutes Stephens made the walk back to the pavilion, followed by his captain.

The two umpires subsequently conferred and the decision was reversed with Caines indicating “dead ball” before the two batsmen were called back to the crease. Jackson defended his decision to stand in his ground over the obvious error.

“Most definitely, that’s the reason why we walked off the field, because there is no way he should have been given out,” Jackson said. “It was a free, he was batting outside his crease, missed the ball and got stumped.

“He was not attempting to run a single, but the wicketkeeper pulled the stump out of the ground and the umpire gave him out. I felt it was unjust, I thought about it [abandoning the game] and the players had my back on that. I don’t want to be critical of the umpire because we’re all human and make mistakes.

“The other umpire came over to him and asked him what happened and he told him. Then he asked him if he attempted to make a single and he said no, so the other umpire said not out.”

“We’ve had bad calls against us pretty much all season, though I’m not using that as an excuse. When it is that blatant I will come on the field and argue the point.”

Cleveland were 30 for three at that point with Stephens and Bremar putting on 20 runs for the fifth wicket when Stephens was dismissed for 20. Macai Young and Dennis Musson carried the score from 57 to 132 before the sixth wicket fell, Young departing for 56.

Musson added 45 before he was ninth out, bowled by Nzari Paynter, while Shaki Darrell scored 20 batting at No 8. Detroy Smith led the St George’s bowling with four for 59 while spinners Isaiah Greaves claimed two for 29 and Paynter two for 51.

Earlier Musson was the top bowler for Cleveland with four for 55.

The match was the only Premier Division match played yesterday. The Flatts versus Southampton Rangers match is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, while the match between Bailey’s Bay and St David’s at Sea Breeze Oval was postponed.