Colt Alje Richardson stroked a whirlwind half-century and Jaden Manders claimed three wickets to guide champions Warwick Workmen’s Club to a convincing 125-run defeat of Somerset Bridge in the opening round of the Western Counties at White Hill Field on Saturday.

Guest player Richardson hammered four sixes and eight fours in an aggressive knock of 79 as Warwick piled up a massive 311 for nine in their allotted 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat.

The early-order bat played an integral role in a fightback after the champions were reduced to 36 for three in the ninth over.

Richardson added 99 runs along with Dominic Sabir, the Warwick captain, to stop the rot before his 58-ball and match-high innings ended when he was caught off the bowling of Donnie Charles.

However, Bridge’s joy was short-lived as the champions received solid contributions from their middle and lower order. which enabled them to post a total ultimately far beyond the challengers’ reach.

Sabir was next high man with 49 from 48 balls that included four boundaries.

Kian Butterfield (36 not out), Jacobi Butterfield (30), Josi Butterfield (28), wicketkeeper Ajani Lee (21) and Clay Darrell (20) were the remaining Warwick batsmen in double figures.

Opening bowler Noel Woods led a wayward Bridge attack that conceded 17 wides with impressive figures of three for 33.

Woods’s new-ball partner, Kareem Hollis, and fourth-change Charles took two for 48 and two for 63 respectively.

Bridge suffered an early setback in their reply as opener Shawn Riley was dismissed for a first-ball duck before a timely stand of 65 between wicketkeeper Adrian Burrows (37) and DaVon Wade (34) put the run chase back on track.

Manders eventually snapped the flourishing partnership after trapping Wade in front leg-before in the twelfth over.

Middle-order pair Jason Smith (24) and all-rounder Charles (33) offered resistance as they added 52 runs in ten overs for the fourth wicket.

However, the match swung sharply in Warwick’s favour for good after Bridge lost six wickets for 21 runs, with Manders and experienced all-rounder Kian Butterfield inflicting the heaviest damage with the ball.

All-rounder Shane Hollis (13) was the only other Bridge batsman in double figures.

Manders had impressive figures of three for 21 while captain Sabir (two for 22) and fourth-change bowler Butterfield (two for 40) claimed two wickets apiece.

All-rounder Richardson took one for five to cap a solid Western Counties debut.

Warwick were as costly as Bridge in the field, as they leaked 31 extras, including 21 wides and five no-balls.

The holders will rest their title on the line again when they face PHC in the second round at White Hill Field on Saturday.

The third round will involve Willow Cuts on August 7 before Southampton Rangers meet the winners in the final on August 21.

Scoreboard

White Hill Field (Warwick won toss): Warwick beat Somerset Bridge by 125 runs

Warwick

J Stovel lbw b K Hollis 5

J Manders c Gilbert b K Hollis 5

A Richardson c S Wade b Charles 79

A Ible b Woods 8

*D Sabir b S Hollis 49

C Darrell b Charles 20

Jacobi Butterfield c Burrows b Woods 30

†A Lee b Woods 21

K Butterfield not out 36

Josi Butterfield c Charles b Riley 28

J Maronie not out 4

Extras (b 6, lb 1, nb 2, w 17) 26

Total (9 wkts; 50 overs) 311

Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-24, 3-36, 4-135, 5-175, 6-193, 7-231, 8-240, 9-300.

Bowling: Woods 10-1-33-3; K Hollis 8-0-48-2; S Wade 1-0-25-0; Gilbert 5-0-38-0; Riley 7-0-47-1; Charles 10-0-63-2; S Hollis 9-0-50-1.

Somerset Bridge

†A Burrows b Sabir 37

S Riley b Maronie 0

D Wade lbw b Manders 34

*J Gilbert b Sabir 0

J Smith c and b K Butterfield 24

D Charles c Manders b K Butterfield 33

S Hollis c Sabir b Manders 13

N Woods c Sabir b Manders 0

S Wade run out 1

K Hollis c J Butterfield b A Richardson 4

S Tavares not out 9

Extras (b 2, lb 3, nb 5, w 21) 31

Total (41.1 overs) 186

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-66, 3-86, 4-138, 5-139, 6-153, 7-155, 8-159, 9-159.

Bowling: Maronie 6-0-24-1; Stovel 4-0-20-0; Darrell 4-0-27-0; Sabir 6-0-22-2; J Butterfield 6-0-22-0; K Butterfield 8-0-40-2; Manders 6-0-21-3; Richardson 1.1-0-5-1.

Umpires: S Douglas and S Caines.