Somerset bolstered their title hopes after handing champions Southampton Rangers their second straight defeat in the Premier Division Twenty20 at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

Somerset won by 77 runs to move level on 50 points with Rangers and Bailey’s Bay at the top of the standings.

Chris Douglas (52) and Dalin Richardson (43) provided the bulk of the runs as Somerset posted 222 for six after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Captain Jordan DeSilva (two for 16), Dalin Richardson (two for 17) and Isaiah Richardson (two for 34) led Somerset’s attack, as Rangers were restricted to 145 for nine in reply.

Charles Trott (59) and Jaloni Albouy (33), the wicketkeeper, topped the Rangers batting while Nirobi Mills, Tayo Smith and player-coach Janeiro Tucker claimed two wickets each.

Elsewhere, St George’s thrashed Bay by eight wickets at Sea Breeze Oval to keep their title hopes alive.

The visitors restricted their hosts to 136 for five after sending them in and then replied with 137 for two.

Allan Douglas led the St George’s batting with 47, Oronde Bascome added 36 while Temiko Wilson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, and Treadwell Gibbons Jr both stroked 20 not out.

All-rounder Gibbons was St George’s most economical bowler with one for 18.

“It is a great victory for the boys and I still think we can pull off a league championship,” Douglas said.

“I think the boys had a good all-round performance today; batted, bowled and fielded well.”

Zeko Burgess led the Bay batting with 35, while Jordan Burgess and Kyle Hodsoll both claimed one for 23.

Yesterday’s remaining top-flight match saw Willow Cuts chalk up their first league win of the season by beating St David’s by three wickets with two balls to spare at Somerset Cricket Club.

Joseph Basden claimed two for 29 as St David’s posted 160 for seven after winning the toss and opting to take first strike.

Ajuan Lamb led the St David’s batting with 40 while Ricardo Brangman, the wicketkeeper-batsman, added 36 and Brian Hall 28.

Kwasi James, the Cuts captain, led the run chase with 70 and received good support from Basden (21), Ras Solomon Burrows (20), wicketkeeper Shaquille Bean (17), and Ryan Shepherd (12 not out) as the hosts replied with 161 for seven in 19.4 overs.

McLaren Lowe was the pick of the St David’s bowling with four for 24 from 3.4 overs.