PHC Field (Somerset Bridge won toss): Somerset Bridge beat PHC by four wickets

Interim captain, Adrian Burrows produced a match-winning batting performance to lead Somerset Bridge to a four-wicket victory over PHC at PHC Field yesterday.

Bridge won the toss and sent PHC in to bat.

Openers, Christopher Clarke and William Staton put on an 11-run partnership before Clarke was adjudged leg before for nine.

Staton followed shortly after for six with the score on 19. PHC then lost two more wickets in quick succession at 24 (Kevin Lambe for three) and 29 (Jahmari Beach for nought) as Bridge had them reeling at 45 for four in their power play (ten overs).

Mid order bats, Dionte Dowling and Darrien Gibbons offered some resistance with a fifth wicket partnership worth 31 runs.

Once these two batters were dismissed at 60 runs, Gibbons for 16, and 68 runs, Dowling for 19, tail-enders Dante Hayward and Jayden Symons picked up the slack to produce PHC’s best partnership of 45 runs before both had their stumps uprooted by Shawn Riley for a joint high score of 20 runs apiece.

Donnie Charles then mopped up the last two wickets as PHC were skidded out for 132 runs from 33.1 overs. They scored 48 runs from boundaries with 12 fours.

Riley finished with four wickets from seven overs for 24 runs while Charles claimed three wickets for only 15 runs.

With only a target of 132 to defend, PHC did not help their own cause as they gave up 18 runs in the first two overs with only six coming from the bat before Kam Mason was caught by Dowling off the bowling of Hayward for six runs.

Hayward then bowled the other opener, Jason Smith for four with 24 runs on the board to put the pressure back on Bridge.

The opening bowlers started to settle as Dowling bowled Clarence Trott leaving Bridge struggling at 28 for three wickets from only five overs.

Burrows and wicket-taker Riley were the next two batters in and settled the innings with some patient batting to put together a 28-run partnership to take the score to 56 to end the power play before tea break.

Riley was bowled on the third ball after play resumed to give Symons a wicket maiden. Burrows did well to maintain his composure and batted sensibly as he faced the bulk of the PHC attack.

He had a lucky escape on 31 runs when he skied to long on but the fielder misjudged the catch before the ball would drop just over his head.

Callum Macintosh and Burrows put on a 21-run partnership to carry the score to 77 before the former was bowled by Gibbons for six. This brought in Donnie Charles to partner Burrows.

Charles dominated the bowling with late cuts and cover drives as the pair brought up the century in 19.3 overs.

Charles’s aggressive innings ended with the score on 118 runs when he was stumped by wicketkeeper Kevin Lambe for 26 off 25 balls with 20 runs coming from boundaries.

Burrows steadied the ship to bring up his 50 as well as end the game with a sweep around leg side for a four as he finished with a game high 53 not out.

Dionte Dowling and Dante Hayward were the pick of the PHC bowlers as both claimed two wickets for 32 and 28 runs, respectively.

“We have been putting in some hard work in training,” said Burrows.

“We have set goals and targets so I am happy for the team that we are meeting them.

“I am looking forward to our next performance.”