North Field, National Sports Centre (Cleveland won toss): Bailey’s Bay beat Cleveland County by 35 runs

Bailey’s Bay celebrated their first Premier Division 50 Overs title in eleven years after completing an unbeaten season with victory over Cleveland County at the National Sports Centre on Saturday.

In a contest reduced to 20 overs due to a wet pitch, Gus Logie’s team overcame a slow start to go on and post a challenging 130 for 5 after being sent in to bat in trying conditions, with Bermuda captain Delray Rawlins leading the way with a blistering unbeaten 78.

In reply, Cleveland were restricted to 95 for 7 with chief wicket-taker Irving Romaine, one of two changes Logie was forced to make to his team, claiming four wickets with his off spin.

“It feels great to be champions,” Terryn Fray, the Bay captain, said. “I have to give my hats off to everyone.

“These guys train hard, so it is deserving, and you have to give credit to these guys and the coaching staff.”

Clevie Wade, the Cleveland coach, felt his team conceded too many runs and were always under pressure during the chase after getting off to a slow start.

“I think Bay got about 15 runs too many and when we went to bat we needed 6.5 per over but didn’t get the start we wanted,” he said.

“It’s a learning experience for them and there’s a lot more cricket to play.”

Bay were 48 for 1 midway through their innings before Bermuda captain Rawlins slammed his foot on the pedal and put the Cleveland attack to the sword with some powerful stroke play that kept the scorers busy.

The aggressive left-handed batsman hammered five fours and six sixes, including one straight down the ground to bring up his 50, which came off 31 deliveries, in style.

Rawlins dominated partnerships of 35 and 61 with Rodney Trott and Fray during his 51-ball knock and also received a slice of luck after being dropped at wide mid-off.

It proved to be a costly error for Cleveland as the Sussex all-rounder added a further 24 with Kyle Hodsoll (4) to put the match well beyond their reach.

“It was a tough wicket, a little bit slow, a little bit stopping and a bit of spin,” Rawlins said.

“You just had to have a plan and I just tried to stick to my guns and it worked.

“The main thing was not to lose too many wickets early. Once we did that we set a platform and it was easier to go at the end.”

Trott (20), who was also dropped at mid on, and Fray (14) were the only other Bay batsmen in double figures.

Captain Mackih McGowan (one for 17), Dion Stovell (one for 10) and Allan Douglas (one for 30) claimed a wicket each for Cleveland while there were two run outs.

With seamer Macquille Walker ruled out through work commitments, Bay were forced to rely heavily on a four-pronged spin attack that exploited a turning track, with Bay director of cricket and former Bermuda captain Romaine leading the charge.

Cleveland’s front line batsmen struggled to pick the gaps even with only two fielders outside of the circle during the powerplay overs.

With the run rate steadily climbing, Bay’s bowlers put the ball in all the right areas and their fielders held onto their catches as Cleveland’s batsmen were forced to take risks to try and keep their team’s hopes alive.

Experienced all-rounder Romaine made the initial breakthrough in the eighth over when he held on to a sharp return catch to dislodge opener Treadwell Gibbons (8).

Romaine then claimed the prized scalp of Douglas (23) when he uprooted his middle stump after being dispatched for successive sixes in his next over to tighten Bay’s grip on the match.

He then trapped Q’shai Darrell (2) leg before after he attempted to hit across the line and had Steven Bremar (4) stumped by opposite number Shakeal Outerbridge as Cleveland slumped to 43 for four in the twelfth over.

Stovell (13) and McGowan (18) moved the score along to 73 before the former got a top edge and was held at long leg off the bowling of spinner Trott.

Cleveland were now up against it, requiring 55 from just 24 balls, and their last hope faded when McGowan departed four balls later after Rawlins took a comfortable catch at cow corner off a Hodsoll delivery.

Keith Whorms (1) was the last Cleveland wicket to fall, bowled playing a Trott delivery on the back foot, before the overs ran out with Wade’s team well short of their target.

Romaine, who was given an ovation by the Bay fans as he left the field early to receive treatment after injuring his hand, led his team’s bowling with impressive figures of four for 23 in his first appearance of the season.

“The strategy was easy with the way the wicket turned,” he said. “It really turns extreme and we went with a four-pronged spin attack that held them back really good.”

Trott (two for 15) and Hodsoll (one for 25) were Bay’s other wicket takers and fellow all-rounder Michael Agard their most economical, having gone for just six runs in his allotted four overs.

Wicketkeeper Outerbridge was the other change to Bay’s team as cover for all-rounder Sharye Tavares, who served a one-game suspension for knocking the bails off the stumps after being dismissed and then kicking them away in his team’s previous outing against Western Stars.