North Field, National Sports Centre (Smith’s Sixers won toss): Smith’s Sixers (10pts) beat Sandys Spartans (0) by 28 runs.

Smith’s Sixers earned a place in the final of the Bermuda Smash Invitational with a 28-run rout of winless Sandys Spartans in the final match of the round-robin phase.

Captain Onias Bascome and all-rounder Allan Douglas stood in lock-step as purveyors of the dismantling carried out by the eastern outfit.

Bascome smashed six sixes and a four in a swashbuckling innings of exactly 50, while Douglas showed expertise at all the relevant points of cricket, scoring 40 and taking two wickets, while pouching a catch to silence the dangerous bat of Delray Rawlins.

“I believe we have an all-round team that works well together,” said Douglas, who was named Man of the Match.

“We have a lot of all-round players and it was a total team effort. They bumped me up the order today, which gave me a confidence boost to play my game and it came through.

“We had lost two early wickets, so me and Onias had to endure a rebuilding stage and I was just a bit disappointed not to get 50 runs.”

As was demonstrated during Wednesday’s opening encounter against Hamilton Hurricanes, when he attacked for 64, Bascome was again belligerent in his approach, dispatching deliveries over the ropes with ruthless abandon.

From the moment he hit the second ball from seamer Seth Campbell for six, Bascome’s dance at the wicket was without a misstep until he reached the 50 mark, when Kamau Leverock finally found access to his dismissal.

Yet that effort was too little too late as Bascome had already orchestrated partnerships of 56 with an equally agressive Douglas and 57 with the previous day’s centurion Raymon Reifer.

Their chances of gaining a top-three position already slim, Sandys were beaten further into oblivion as Reifer and Malachi Jones (34 not out) contributed 49 for the fifth wicket as the newly installed favourite’s innings ended at 179 for eight.

A credit to his fighting spirit, Leverock produced his best bowling performance of the week, taking three for 20, albeit in vain, as the rest of his cohorts were taken to the sword.

“Our performances throughout the tournament have been consistent,” said Bascome, the tournament’s third-leading runscorer with 120, at an average of 40 runs per inning. “

We’re looking to continue to build on our success all the way to the final. We’re happy to be able to get some rest tomorrow ahead of the game, while our opponents are playing.”

Asked of his early-season batting form Bascome gave credit to pre-season preparations with his home club St George’s.

“We’ve worked hard at St George’s all pre-season and I’ve had a lot of hits in the nets,” added Bascome, who noted no preference as to which team, Hamilton Hurricanes or Pembroke Panthers, he preferred to face in the final.

“I’ve been feeling really good and have been able to bring it to this tournament.”

With only pride to play for Sandys opening pair of Leverock (39) and Shamarh Brooks (16) set about avoiding a third consecutive defeat, easing the side to 32 before Brooks played around a Jonté Smith offering and was trapped lbw.

Delray Rawlins’s (15) stay at the crease proved brief as his attempted pull through deep midwicket nestled in the safe hands of Douglas.

All hope faded when Leverock was adjudged caught behind by Okera Bascome off Douglas, initiating a late order slide, as the Sandys chase fell well short.

The defeat completed a dismal tournament for Spartans, who had started as the pre-tournament favourites.