White Hill Field (Somerset Bridge won toss): Warwick beat Somerset Bridge by 158 runs

A virtuoso performance by Malachi Jones had Warwick walking tall after they dethroned Somerset Bridge in the second round of the Western Counties Cup at White Hill on Saturday.

Demonstrating that he remains among Bermuda’s top all-rounders, Jones turned the finely manicured expanse into his playground, first with bat and later with ball in hand.

On a slow and low wicket that took appreciable turn, Jones's off breaks engineered a batting collapse from which the chasing home team never recovered.

Jones’s score of 83 almost doubled that managed by Bridge, who could muster only 49 in response to Warwick’s 207 all out with Jones, bowling unchanged for ten overs, taking three for 16.

In the end, Bridge captain Adrian Burrows’s sorrowful look told of the disappointment at a battle lost.

“It was just unfortunate for us today,” said Burrows, who was the second-highest scorer for his side with just seven runs.

“Congratulations to Warwick. We have to be as gracious in defeat as we are in victory. It hurts, but we just didn’t put it together today and they were the better team. That’s how the game goes.”

As it has been for much of the season, Jones and Luke Horan (23) gave Warwick a solid foundation upon which to build, the pair engaging in a 57-run opening partnership.

Solid contributions from Tre Manders (24) and Cory Burgess (17) helped Warwick to a total that could challenge opponents with a suspect batting line-up, even with the additions of guest players Kamau Leverock and Allan Douglas Jr.

Douglas was most proficient when bowling, bagging four wickets for 29 runs and was well supported by leg spinner Callum McIntosh, who returned figures of three for 40.

Turning to bat, Bridge faltered early and often with Jones removing openers Shawn Riley (2) and Neil Thakur (4), while promising young fast bowler Luke Fulton captured the precious scalp of Leverock for a first-ball duck, which quickly reduced Bridge to nine for three.

Burrows and Joshua Gilbert (4) offered a glimmer of hope in taking the score to 23 for the fourth wicket, but thereafter the parade back to the pavilion resumed without cessation.

Aiding Jones in effecting the opposition’s demise were captain Staphen Dill, who bagged four wickets and Horan, with figures of two for six.

“It was a collective effort,” said a victorious Dill.

“We came into the game with the idea that we would continue what we’ve been doing in the league. We were able to execute that plan as a team, with the help of our guest players.

“So it’s just a great team victory and it’s wonderful to see the team coming together as a unit.”

Dill afforded particular kudos to Jones and Horan, with the openers continuing their strong recent form.

“Malachi and Luke have got us off to great starts the past month, which is how it should be,” Dill said.

“We, as a team, have been able to build around them and you saw that today.”