Devonshire Rec (Western Stars won toss by forfeit): Western Stars beat North Village by seven wickets

Brian Hall and Seth Campbell starred with the ball as Western Stars retained their Central Counties title with an easy win over North Village on Saturday.

Hall took five for 28 in just 6.4 overs and Campbell four for 32 in his ten overs as Stars bowled out North Village for just 106 in 23.4 overs, with Jarryd Richardson, one of the two guest players fielded by Village, the only batsman to do any serious damage with 45.

Village never got going after losing Detne Bell, who departed for a duck without facing any delivery three balls into their innings and had Richardson to thank for getting them past the 100-run mark. The Bailey’s Bay duo of Richardson and Terryn Fray were the guest players for Village, a club they play football for in the Premier Division.

Stars wasted little time in knocking off the runs in 12.3 overs with the loss of just three wickets and Malachi Jones top scoring with 46. Jones and Dalin Richardson were their guest players.

Hall was delighted to record his second five-wicket haul of the season after he picked up five for 28 last month to lead Stars to victory by five wickets over his former team St David’s in a BCB 50 Overs Premier Division encounter, on a day he got a hat-trick and scored an unbeaten 64.

“Feels really good, it's my second five-wicket haul this season actually,’’ Hall said.

“Obviously, North Village are a bit weaker than the last team I got five wickets against, St David’s, but I will take it.”

The 30-year old spinner has ambitions to play in Cup Match for St George’s and to also make a return to the Bermuda team. He last represented the island in November 2016 against Denmark.

“I keep working hard every day in my game and hopefully I can get into Cup Match and do big things,’’ he said.

“I want to get back into the national squad as well and play for Bermuda before I get too old. I just have to get myself fitter.”

On what they expected from Village, Hall said: “You never underestimate opponents and you always come out with your best foot forward.”

Village usually play in the Evening League and for their captain, Sherving Jennings, it was more about enjoying themselves against opponents who play at the highest level.

“For an Evening League team, I thought we did pretty good, but some of my batsmen just let me down today,’’ Jennings said.

“We had a plan and it worked halfway. At the end of the day, we came to have fun because we are an Evening League team and we are just here to have a good time.

“We came to put the pressure on them. We play Evening League T20, soto come out here and play 50 overs was pretty good for us. We put 106 runs up for an Evening League team.

Jennings was satisfied to get three Stars wickets, especially claiming the scalp of Khiry Furbert for a duck.

“To play against Western Stars is an honour,” he said. “We just came to put a score on the board and that's all we did and let them make mistakes. We even got one of their top guys out for a duck.”

Village had to field their coach Andrew Griffith after one of the players did not turn up for the match, with Stars winning retaining their title after playing just one match.

They were initially meant to play Devonshire Rec in the first round and Tuff Dogs in the second but the defending champions automatically progressed when those matches were rained off..