Wellington Oval (Bailey’s Bay won toss): Bailey’s Bay beat St George’s by two wickets

Kyle Hodsoll produced a match-winning knock to power unbeaten Bailey’s Bay to victory over St George’s in a thrilling Premier Division contest that went right to the wire.

The experienced all-rounder struck a vital 29 and dominated an unbroken 32-run partnership with Zakao Hart (3) which carried the visitors safely over the line with seven balls to spare.

With the game hanging in the balance, Hodsoll lofted Charles Trott over midwicket for six and then dispatched the bowler’s next ball to the vacant long-on boundary for four to seal Bay’s hard-fought win in dramatic fashion.

“The team asked me to do a job that I did a few times last year, so I just knew if I backed my ability to get these runs I was going to do it, and it came off,” Hodsoll said.

Teenager Hart provided the perfect foil foil for Hodsoll and produced some excellent running between the stumps to keep his partner on strike.

“I told Zakao ‘I don’t care where the ball goes, you’re a track star so we’re running,” Hodsoll said. “I told him to get me on strike and we’re winning this game, he did what he had to do and I commended him.”

Hodsoll came to the crease amid a major slide in which six wickets tumbled for 35 runs in seven overs to place St George’s in the ascendancy.

Captain Terryn Fray and Stephen Outerbridge were caught behind, Coolridge Durham was bowled, Rodney Trott and Michael Agard were held at third man and long-off respectively, while Shaquille Outerbridge was bowled swiping across the line to leave Bay in a spot of bother at 197 for eight in the 36th over.

However, Hodsoll and Hart kept their cool when it mattered most to see them home.

“We were still on par with the run-rate and needed one or two big overs to get ourselves back in the game and when it came down to me, I just backed myself to do it,” Hodsoll said.

Opener Durham laid the foundation for the chase with some exquisite shots to all areas of the field during his game-high knock of 72.

The stylish left-hander thumped ten fours during a brilliant innings, including one off seamer Rohan Richards to the long-leg boundary to bring up his fifty in style.

“It was good to see Coolridge get a half century,” Gus Logie, the Bay coach, said.

“He really worked hard and is one of those individuals who continues to put in the hard yards and that’s something we want to see from all the players.”

Durham was the mainstay of the innings and featured in meaningful partnerships of 44 with fellow opener Sharye Tavares (27), 53 with Azende Furbert (19) and 65 with Fray (15) before Hodsoll finished the job off on his return from injury.

“I don’t think Kyle is one hundred per cent,” Logie added. “He wanted to play and just couldn’t sit on the sidelines. I know today’s innings would have done a lot for his confidence and also for the team.

“To get over the line the way we did was great. It was exciting but we have a lot of work to do and I think the players know that.

“When the batsmen get in they have to stay in and we didn’t see all of that today, but Coolridge did and of course Kyle did at the end. I congratulate them both.”

First change bowler Macai Simmons was the pick of the St George’s attack with three for 44, while fellow seamer Trott (two for 58) and off spinner Nzari Paynter (two for 26) claimed two wickets each.

St George’s did themselves no favours in the field, dropping Durham three times and Hodsoll once and they also squandered two run outs at a crucial stage of the match .

Off spinner Trott (two for 30) and Agard (two for 31) had earlier claimed a pair of wickets each as St George’s posted 227 all out in 39.5 overs after being sent to bat in a match reduced to 40 overs after a delayed start due to a damp pitch.

Opener Oronde Bascome led the way with 50 while middle-order bat Zeko Burgess struck an unbeaten 48 and dominated a 61-run partnership with wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith (11).

Nzari Paynter (26), who added 71 for the first wicket with Bascome, Temiko Wilson (23) and Charles Trott (17) were the other St George’s batsmen in double figures.

Bay lead the table but have played a game more than Cleveland.