Somerset Cricket Club (Willow Cuts won toss): St George’s beat Willow Cuts by eight wickets

Jonté Smith thumped an aggressive half century and Macai Simmons and Q’Shai Darrell claimed six wickets between them as title contenders St George’s came away with a comfortable win over Premier Division 50 overs rivals and hosts Willow Cuts on Sunday.

Picking up where he left off after stroking a maiden century at senior level in his previous visit to the crease last week, No 3 batter Smith hammered the Cuts attack into submission in a swashbuckling knock of 60 from 39 balls, which included eight boundaries and two sixes.

He added 111 for the second wicket with opener Oronde Bascome, who struck 42 from 39 balls with eight boundaries before he was dismissed with St George’s on the brink of victory.

It was left to Smith and wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith (2) to polish off the remaining thirteen runs and see the visitors across the line without further damage.

“It was a solid performance all round,” St George’s coach Clay Smith told The Royal Gazette.

“We have one or two injuries that we are managing at this time as it’s a long season.

“It’s the first time we have taken to the field first and we bowed well as a unit. I am very proud of my players’ approach to what could have been a tricky game if we let our standards drop.

“As a team we still have room for improvement as we continue to look to get better week in and week out.”

The in-form Jonté Smith again benefited from the extra work he has done lately in the nets.

“When something is working for you, you continue to do it, so I hit another few hundred tennis balls with my uncle Wendell [Smith] this week,” he said.

“I continued to work on some things I need to improve and I am thankful to be reaping the rewards right now.”

Opener Sheldon Caesar (one for 30) and first change Kamal Bashir (one for 32) claimed the St George’s wickets to fall.

Cuts elected to bat and were 75 for one before suffering a catastrophic collapse which featured their remaining wickets falling for 58 runs in 19 overs, with Simmons and fourth-change Darrell doing the damage with the ball.

First-change Simmons took three for 17 from 7.2 overs and sent down two maidens, while Darrell bagged three for 30 from nine overs which included a maiden.

“Q’Shai Darrell and Macai Simmons were excellent with the ball,” Jonté Smith said.

“Both very economical and picking up valuable wickets. As a team performance we could not have asked for much better.

“We were excellent with the ball and batting-wise we set objectives as a team and we executed.

“Oronde and I had a great century partnership. He was excellent today and really showed his class.

“We have quality throughout our line-up and as a team we’re on the right track, but we’re always striving to improve and keep our standards high.

“It’s a long summer of cricket and we know we have to stay dedicated and disciplined to get the rewards at the end of the season. No one is going to give it to us.”

Second-change Shakai Darrell (two for 50) and Clay Darrell (one for 11) claimed the other Cuts wickets.

Wicketkeeper Shaquille Bean topped the Cuts batting with 48, from 85 balls, and hit six fours and a six before being run out on the last ball of the 27th over just two shy off a half century.

Dwight Basden (16), Bashir (15) and Micah Simons (11) were the only other batters in double figures for a Cuts side who suffered their second successive loss in as many appearances this season.