White Hill Field (Willow Cuts won toss): Willow Cuts beat Warwick by six wickets

Guest player Janeiro Tucker showed the youngsters the way with two wickets in a mean ten-over spell and a high score of 62 as Willow Cuts overpowered Warwick in the third round of the Western Counties Cup on Saturday.

Appearing for Cuts for the first time in the competition, having previously played for Southampton Rangers — their opponents in the August 24 final — the 49-year-old figured prominently in a 111-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dominic Sabir, a fellow guest player and club team-mate at Somerset.

The partnership was crucial in guiding Cuts to 187 for four in 44 overs, after they had restricted Warwick to 185 for eight.

Sabir, who battled against cramp late in his innings, was unbeaten on 56 when he and Deunte Darrell finished things off with much to spare.

Tucker, who was bowled by Delray Rawlins when his side needed 17 to win, was named the man of the match.

“I just wanted to make sure that I got us in a position where we couldn't lose,” Tucker told The Royal Gazette. “Once I stayed till the end, then we had a better chance of winning the game.

“Dominic Sabir and I did what they asked us to do for the team. I’m just going to enjoy the moment and when Rangers come, if they want me to play again, I’m happy to do that and have some more fun.”

With Sabir, a player 28 years his junior, buckling under the heat, the Cup Match legend gave out the “secret” to his longevity.

“I keep myself in shape, I go to the gym on a daily basis,’’ he said. “I don’t train cricket but I train fitness, which is more important.

“I’m not going to lose cricket but you lose fitness if you don’t look after yourself, and that’s what gets me over the line when I play cricket.”

For Sabir, a former Warwick player, the critical moment was when Cuts captain Ras Solomon Burrows won the toss on a steaming hot day and asked the holders to bat on a track with a helpful covering of grass.

“I haven’t seen a pitch like that at White Hill,” Sabir said. “We sent them in to bat and got what we needed from our bowlers, especially at the beginning, so that put a lot of pressure on their middle to late-order batsmen.

“We had a crazy start with Ras hitting a six off the first ball of the innings. That was exciting; it looked that we were going in the right direction, but a we had a few mishaps with the two run-outs.

“All-round it was a comfortable win; Janeiro Tucker and myself were able to roll it back in for us.

“Janeiro is my role model; to bat with him was great. He made it a lot easier. He was able to coach me along the way even after I cramped. He showed me what I needed to do.

“The nice thing about playing cricket in Bermuda is that you pretty much know all the players, so it’s always a good vibe regardless of who you play for.”

Burrows stated that they went into the match optimistic about their chances of winning.

“Looking at our team, we were very confident that we were going to defeat Warwick easily,’’ the Cuts captain said.

“The partnership between Janeiro Tucker and Dominic Sabir, those two really consolidated. Where we were falling short, they picked up and carried us through.

“We’re going to the final against Southampton Rangers and we will win it, I’m 100 per cent sure about that.”

Tre Manders, who scored 55 at No 4 for Warwick whose batting was otherwise laboured, felt that they should have removed Tucker before he settled in.

“I knew when Janeiro comes in, you've got to get him early,” the Bermuda batter said.

“Once he hangs around, he can take the game away from any team. At his age, he’s still playing amazing cricket; his name itself brings big things to any team.

“We were up against an experienced side with Janeiro Tucker and Herbie Bascome, who have a played a lot of years of cricket, so it wasn't going to be easy for us.”