While champions Somerset had already secured the title going into the final day of the Bermuda Cricket Board 50 Overs First Division season, the fates of the teams who could join them in promotion were still to be decided.

Willow Cuts and Flatts squared off at the National Sports Centre on Sunday with both teams on 25 points and knowing victory would secure them a place in the Premier Division next season.

Flatts had worked hard to put themselves in with a chance and were forced to play two games in two days to complete their fixtures. A win over Somerset Bridge at White Hill Field on Saturday by nine wickets meant they entered the match against Cuts full of confidence, but after losing the toss things began to unravel pretty quickly.

After being put in to bat by their opponents, Flatts appeared to make a solid start with openers JJ Nel and Kevin Hurdle starting solidly. The pair operated at a steady pace and put on 34 for the first wicket in 7.5 overs until their partnership was broken when Nel was caught by Deunte Darrell, off the bowling of Herbie Bascome, for 12.

That precipitated a top-order collapse for Flatts with the next four wickets falling for just five runs. First to go was Nel’s fellow opener Hurdle, who was given out lbw to Micah Simons, and he was swiftly followed back to the pavilion by captain Dajon Carey, who was run out for a duck, Detroy Smith (1) and Kijuan Franks (1).

Now at 39 for 5, Flatts were in desperate need of a solid partnership but Cofield Robinson (3) and Regino Smith (0) were both out cheaply despite occupying the crease for a couple of overs.

Kevin Lambe and Paul Carr-Harvey managed to bring a modicum of respectability to the score, putting on 33 for the eighth wicket before Lambe was caught by Joseph Basden, off the bowling of Kevon Fubler, for ten.

Carr-Harvey remained unbeaten on 20 but could only look on helpless as the final two wickets of Nelson Bascome (1) and Shane Robinson (2) brought an end to the Flatts innings at just 87.

Fubler was the pick of the Cuts bowlers taking three for 14 in his ten overs. Bascome also grabbed three wickets, with Simons bagging a brace and Joseph Basden chipping in with one.

With the bowlers having put Cuts in a great position, it was left to the batsman to chase down the lowly total and they did not give their supporters too many nailbiting moments, knocking off the target in 20.5 overs and with the loss of just three wickets to earn promotion back to the Premier Division.

Kamal Bashir top scored with 34 not out, receiving support from Joseph Basden (22 not out) and Chakote Basden (10).

There was a tremendous performance from Somerset Bridge’s Joshua Gilbert in the other First Division match played on Sunday.

Gilbert hit 99 not out to lead Bridge to 252 for eight as they batted out their 50 overs and he also picked up three wickets as his side restricted Devonshire Rec to just 37 runs in response.

Gilbert took to the crease after player-coach Shane Hollis was given out leg before to Shaquille Pitcher with the very first ball of the match and he didn’t have to wait too long for another batting partner after opener Khymi Richards fell for five.

Captain Ras Solomon Burrows was bowled by Pitcher for two to leave Bridge 19 for 3 after just 6.2 overs.

It was only then that Gilbert found a couple of willing partners with Samir Tavares contributing 15 of the 44 runs in a stabilising fourth-wicket partnership.

Donnie Charles then joined Gilbert at the crease, with the pair combining for 118 runs before Charles was caught by Pitcher off the bowling of Clay Darrell for 67.

Gilbert was then left to chase his century with the overs starting to disappear and he finished just one run short, ending the innings on 99 not out.

Chasing a mammoth score of 252, Devonshire Rec capitulated to be all out for just 37.

None of their batsman made it to a score higher than five, with three batsmen failing to trouble the scorer and extras contributing 14 of their total.

Gilbert took the wickets of Gerald Simons, Lorenzo Simmons and Aaron Holdipp as he recorded figures of three for six in his five overs. Tavares picked up two wickets with Callum McIntosh, Noel Woods and Cadence Douglas also notching.