Reggie Baker and Kijuan Franks produced a match-winning partnership to guide Flatts Victoria to a seven-wicket win over the Bermuda Under-19s in the First Division Twenty20 competition at White Hill Field yesterday.

The pair added 57 runs in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand that carried their team across the line with 22 balls to spare.

Baker, who batted throughout the innings and hit the winning boundary, led the run chase with 39 from 42 balls that included five fours. Franks offered solid support as he hammered a 35 from 21 deliveries that contained eight fours.

The experienced pair batted sensibly, picking up singles with some excellent running between the wickets and punished anything short or wide with authority.

“We’re very confident right now batting-wise,” said Regino Smith, the deputising Flatts captain.

“Reggie is always the anchor for us and that’s the type of batsman you need in your team; somebody that’s going to bat the innings out.

“That freed up the other players coming in to play their game with Logan [Jones] getting a nice knock with Reggie holding one end and then Kijaun finished it off.”

Flatts got their run chase off to a flying start with Baker and Smith adding 31 for the first wicket as the Bermuda Under-19 bowlers struggled with their lines.

Smith departed in the fourth over to a superb catch in the deep off the bowling of seam bowler Jermel Proctor and was quickly joined in the pavilion by Cofield Robinson who was bowled by an inswinger from the same bowler without troubling the scorers.

But Baker and promising youngster Jones added 55 for the third wicket to repair the damage and get the run chase back on track.

Jones dominated the partnership as he smashed three fours and a six in a whirlwind knock of 27 from 29 balls before he was held in the deep attempting.

This brought Franks to the crease with Baker and together the pair knocked off the remaining runs without further damage to secure unbeaten Flatts their third straight win.

Proctor was the pick of the Bermuda Under-19s bowling with two for 24.

Earlier, the Bermuda Under-19s posted a respectable total but it ultimately was not enough as a slow run rate took its toll.

Zerri Tomlinson topped scored with 40 from 49 balls with four fours and a six while opening partner Ori Wilson stroked 34 from 33 balls.

Jamar Stovel gathered 24 from 21 balls and Jarryd Richardson an unbeaten 27 from 16 balls.

All-rounder Jones also shone with the ball as he claimed two for 18.

“They [the Bermuda Under-19s] did well to get the runs that they did,” Smith added. “There were a couple of fielding mistakes on our behalf, but I feel like we did well to keep them at 141.”

First Division Twenty20

Flatts Victoria v Bermuda Under-19s

White Hill Field (Bermuda Under-19s won toss):

Flatts beat Bermuda Under-19s by seven wickets.

Bermuda Under 19s

O Wilson b Bascome 34

Z Tomlinson run out (Phillips) 40

J Stovel st Robinson b L Jones 24

D Sabir st Robinson b L Jones 1

*J Richardson not out 27

D Gibbons, E Shakir, J Proctor, J Blakeney, K Richardson, K Sealey, M DeSilva I Bascome did not bat

Extras (w 9, b 2, lb 4) 15

Total (20 overs) 141

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-95, 3-97, 4-141

Bowling: Franks 4-0-33-0; Robinson 2-0-10-0; Farrel 2-0-15-0; Smith 4-0-29-0; Bascome 4-0-30-1; Jones 4-0-18-2.

Flatts Victoria

R Baker not out 39

*R Smith c Sabir b Proctor 14

+C Robinson b Proctor 0

L Jones c Richardson b Sabir 27

K Franks not out 35

R Garland, K Sousa, K Jones, L Phillips, K Bascome, S Robinson, D Farrel, D Carey did not bat

Extras (w 23, nb 6, b 1, lb 1) 30

Total (16.2 overs) 145

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-33, 3-88,

Bowling: Stovel 1-0-11-0; Proctor 3.2-0-24-2; Blakeney 4-0-33-0; Richardson 2-0-15-0; Sealey 2-0-24-0; Sabir 3-0-22-1; Bascome 1-0-14-0.

Umpires: A Knight, S Smith