Bailey’s Bay edged St George’s by three runs in a Premier Division Twenty20 nail-biter at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday to extend their unbeaten start to the season.

St George’s were cruising towards their target of 145 at 134 for four in the penultimate over of the match with the free-scoring Allan Douglas in menacing form at the crease.

However, the match turned sharply after Coolidge Durham took an excellent running catch at long-on to dismiss Douglas off the bowling of Rodney Trott.

The experienced off spinner then bowled wicketkeeper Temiko Wilson (0) and Jelani Carlington (0) with successive balls to leave the contest hanging in the balance, with St George’s requiring ten runs for victory off the final over.

Detroy Smith (10) and new batsman Jabari Darrell (1) scored six off the first five balls to inch their team closer to their target.

But ultimately that was as close as St George’s would get, as Bay captain Terryn Fray caught Smith at long off the bowling of Zeko Burgess off the last ball of the match to clinch his team’s third straight win of the campaign in dramatic fashion.

“We were a little short of our target batting but we knew that we can defend lower totals than what we are used to just bowling straight,” Fray said.

“We knew if we got to the last over we stood a good chance. Less of their experienced batsmen in, so for us it was just about bowling in the right areas in that last over, and we knew that would work out for us.”

Bay held their catches when it mattered most, in particular Durham who also made an excellent grab in the deep to dismiss St George’s captain Onias Bascome off the bowling of Sancho Jackson.

“It’s Twenty20 and you dominate with your fielding,” Fray added. “I think in Twenty20 it’s always opportunity; everybody wants to hit the ball up in the air, so you can hold your catches.

“Very seldom can someone hit ten sixes in a match. Chances are going to come and if you take it majority of the time, you are going to be the team to win if you field better. I felt that we fielded really well today.”

Bay scored 144 for four in their allotted overs after winning the toss and electing to bat on an excellent batting track.

Fray led from the front as he topped his team’s batting with an unbeaten 36 from 18 deliveries that included four fours and two sixes.

The Bay captain dominated an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership with Kyle Hodsoll (0) which ultimately put the match beyond St George’s reach.

All of Bay’s top order batsmen made decent starts.

Openers Trott and Durham stroked 30 and 18 respectively while wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith chipped in with 20 and Burgess 29.

All-rounder Douglas led the St George’s attack with two for 24.

St George’s were nicely poised at 73 for three in the twelfth over with captain Onias Bascome in full flow at the crease before a penetrative spell from Trott backed up by tight fielding enabled Bay to ultimately come out on top.

Second change Trott led Bay’s attack with excellent figures of four for 15 from his allotted overs, supported by Burgess (two for 37) and Jackson (two for 14).

Macai Simmons topped the St George’s batting with 35 from 20 balls that contained three sixes and two fours.

Douglas was next high man with 30 from 23 balls, which included two fours and as many sixes, while Onias Bascome struck two sixes and three fours in a knock of 29 from 26 balls.