White Hill Field (Flatts won toss): Flatts beat Somerset Bridge by seven wickets

Veteran Paul Carr produced the best over of his lengthy career as he claimed a hat-trick plus one to restrict Somerset Bridge from a once-promising total to a paltry 99, which was never enough to seriously challenge the visiting side.

The 58-year-old seam bowler, who was in his second over with the score 93 for five, had Donnie Charles stumped, and then bowled Clarence Trott, Samir Tavares and Cadence Douglas to set up a much easier chase for Flatts.

Flatts’ decision to insert Bridge was a wise one as Nelson Bascome disrupted the stumps of stalwart Shawn Riley in the very first over. Shane Hollis and captain Adrian Burrows batted sensibly to put on 30 for the second wicket before Burrows was bowled by Regino Smith. Noel Woods then joined Hollis and the two settled the innings with some textbook scoring strokes to nurture a team-high 41-run partnership but Woods would mistime a ball of full length from Kevin Hurdle and was bowled.

Hurdle would then catch Hollis off the bowling of Jahni Douglas for a team-high 40 off 54 balls, with one four and the only two sixes in the Bridge innings, before Carr, the fifth bowler used, would mop up the tail with his magnificent spell to restrict Bridge to their under-par total. He would finish with four wickets for only eight runs in two overs.

“Normally I open the bowling,” said a composed Carr. “I told the captain to save me to restrict the runs and today it worked out best, not just for me, but for the team. I just put the ball on line and length.”

Needing 100 runs to win at a run-rate of exactly five, the Flatts openers of JJ Nel and Dajon Carey were in a no-nonsense mood as they scored nine runs from the first over. The two found gaps to score runs comfortably as they rotated the strike to build a solid opening partnership of 67.

Nel was dropped at extra cover off Tavares with the score 61, but did not add to his tally as he skied to deep long-off to Jason Smith off Donnie Charles for a team-high 35, which included three fours and a six.

Carey would be trapped leg-before six runs later for 21. Hurdle added 13 before Zack Morris finished the game with a six off Khymal Richards over deep square leg.