Somerset Cricket Club (St David’s won toss): Somerset beat St David’s by eight wickets

Dominic Sabir was in top form to help Somerset seal to a comfortable eight-wicket victory over St David’s in the Athene T20 Premier Division on Sunday.

Sabir stepped up with three maidens from his four overs, taking three wickets for just two runs to complete his best bowling spell for Somerset, before coming back to put on a composed knock of 40 off 33 balls in the run chase.

The 20-year-old emphasised the importance of focus in chasing a low total.

“I have seen teams defend lower totals,” Sabir said. “We kept our composure despite the setbacks of Kamau [Leverock] and Alje [Richardson] getting out.”

The East Enders won the toss and chose to bat, with opening bowler Greg Maybury struggling to find his line initially, bowling three wides to open the match.

Marcus Scotland, also a Bermuda Under-19 player, took advantage on the final ball of the first over with a powerful drive to extra cover.

Isaiah Richardson stepped in from the opposite end and dismissed both St David’s openers with his medium pace.

First, skipper George O’Brien edged into the grateful hands of wicketkeeper Amari Ebbin, before three deliveries later, Scotland picked out Jacob Albertze at mid-off.

Justin Pitcher and Isaiah O’Brien then cranked up the aggression, each smashing one four and a six, before the former was caught by Leverock off the bowling of Maybury.

Isaiah O’Brien was later fooled by a slower ball from Nirobi Mills, as St David’s hit the midway point of their innings at 47 for four.

Sabir began his spell with a maiden on his first over, before ramping up the pressure with a double-wicket maiden in his second over. First, Sa-Qui Robinson drove straight to Leverock at long-off, before Mikkail Crockwell picked out Richardson in the same vicinity.

Ricardo Brangman, who replaced Pitcher, was the odd man out during the impressive bowling of the Bermuda all-rounder, having watched all three scalps fall during his spell at the crease.

Enrique Minks was the final victim of Sabir’s impeccable spell, being trapped leg before in his fourth and final over.

Sammy Robinson illustrated a composed figure in the final few overs, as he and Brangman put on an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 38 runs from 31 balls to give St David’s a respectable total given the bowling side’s relentless pressure.

Sabir and Leverock, opened the Somerset innings with an aggressive mindset, with the latter smashing two fours and a six in the second over.

He was eventually dismissed in the third-over, falling victim to George O’Brien to break the 29-run partnership.

Alje Richardson was then dismissed by Justin Pitcher’s as the designated home team attempted to find some momentum.

However, Amari Ebbin provided an excellent support act to allow Sabir to use his shot variety to close out the match.

Striking four boundaries in a knock of 20 from 14 allowed Sabir to smash two sixes in the last three overs to secure Somerset the comfortable success.

“This was my best bowling figures,” said Sabir of his efforts. “I am very pleased with my contribution.”