St.George's 228

Southampton 124

St.George's pulled off a stunning 104-run victory to put a huge dent in Southampton's league title aspirations at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Inspired by solid knocks from opening bat Detroy Smith (53), Freddie Hall Jr (52) and a superb all-round performance by Gregg Foggo (46 not out and five for 32), the east enders made short work of a Southampton side who were skittled out for just 124 on a pitch that yielded 525 runs the previous day.

In the process, St.George's also swept the season series between the two teams, while Southampton also suffered their first home loss this season.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, St.George's' skipper Charlie Marshall may have thought that the gods were against him as rain sent players scampering for shelter just prior to the start of the match.

And when play resumed some 20 minutes later, Southampton didn't take long to make the breakthrough as both Mark Ray (one) and young Orande Bascome (three) had short stays at the crease.

But St.George's were able to claw their way back into the match and put sufficient runs on the scoreboard, thanks largely in part to the batting heroics of Foggo, Smith, Hall and yet again, some untidy Southampton fielding.

Smith cracked eight fours and two sixes while facing only 49 balls for his top knock of 53, while Hall stroked six fours and three sixes off 67 deliveries.

Foggo anchored the innings for a patient 46 with one six and three fours.

Southampton gave up 35 runs to the total.

Olin Jones was the pick of Southampton's bowlers, claiming three for 65, while David Saltus seized his 31st and 32nd wickets of the season.

Keith Wainwright also had two for 36, while skipper Janeiro Tucker (one for 21) and veteran player/coach Clevie Wade grabbed one for 14 respectively.

Asked to score at around 4.28 runs per over, Southampton got off to a rocky start by having David Ferreira, who was involved in a collision while fielding, trapped leg before wicket for five by Foggo.

The left arm fast bowler would strike another telling blow 13 runs later, by shattering the stumps of both Stevie Lightbourne (0) and skipper Janeiro Tucker (0).

Veteran Ricky Brangman would also feel the wrath of Foggo as the latter had him snapped up by wicketkeeper Hall for four, leaving Southampton in serious trouble at 27 for four.

Wainwright looked solid at the crease but after he was brilliantly caught by Foggo at short long on for 24 only Ian Armstrong (29), and Quinton Sherlock offered much resistance as St.George's secured an inspirational win that should see them overhaul Southampton for second place in the table.

Veteran medium pacer Gary Brangman also played a significant role in the win by grabbing two for 25, young spinner Travis Smith took two for 32 while Herbie Bascome seized one for 35.

Bailey's Bay 209

Cleveland 210-8

Cleveland, needing four runs from the last four balls to win this game, did so in style with Harry Rawat slashing veteran Ricky Hill to the mid-wicket boundary for four to give Cleveland an eight-wicket victory at Wellington Oval.

In a game affected by rain on three occasions and the overs reduced to 41, Cleveland finished on top thanks to heroic performances by spinner Peter Philpott, who snatched seven for 31 off 8.4 overs including a hat-trick. Then opener Anthony Bascome inspired their batting with a fine 68 (two sixes and 10 fours).

Batting first, Bay reached their respectable total with Hill, showing no signs of a batsman playing in only his second game of the season, striking 108.

The opener hammered seven fours and six sixes, joining Rodney Trott in a second wicket stand that put on 137, Trott scoring 25. The pair added stability after Hill's opening partner Roderick Masters went for a duck with just eight runs on the board.

Others in double figures for Bay were skipper Irving Romaine with 16 and Dennis Pilgrim (13).

Also taking wickets for Cleveland in addition to Philpott was Rawast with two for 40 from nine overs.

Cleveland got on top of Bay's bowling early with openers Philpott (4) and Bascome putting on 48 for the first wicket. Though Philpott, Aaron Adams (14) and Charles Robinson (6) fell before Cleveland reached the century mark, Bascome stayed around to eventually play a leading role in putting his side into a challenging position. Skipper Carlton Smith contributed 31 and veteran Johnny Richardson, batting at number eight, was undefeated on 22 when they reached their winning target with eight wickets down. Jeffrey Tyrrell scored 11 and Rawat was not out on eight at the end.

Jermaine Outerbridge was top bowler for Bay with three wickets for 66 runs off 10 overs while Dennis Pilgrim took two for 26 off 10 overs and Rodney Trott two for 35 off 10 overs.

First Division round-up

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