St. David's 95

Western Stars 99-4

Western Stars kept a breath of air in their Premier League hopes yesterday with a dramatic six-wicket triumph over St. David's at Lord's.

The defending champions - who have been up against it this season - shocked their hosts by dismissing them for a paltry 95 and then scoring a comfortable 99 for four in 26.4 overs. The win ensured that Albert Steede's team remain in the hunt to repeat last year's success.

“This was extremely important, especially with Southampton Rangers losing today. This was something we desperately needed and, at this stage, we will take whatever we can get,” declared Steede, after he and Hasan Durham saw Stars to the winning target.

“I'm pleased with our overall performance. It was a real team effort. We have had some hard luck so we have to make our own luck now.

“When Glenn Blakeney was caught at deep square leg off the third ball of the match that was a key wicket. From there, we put the pressure on them and they succumbed.”

It was indeed that easy for Stars as the early demise of the usually high-scoring Blakeney - plus the absence of the suspended Clay Smith - hampered St. David's badly.

Only stand-in captain O.J. Pitcher and Chris Foggo achieved double figures. The latter was left on 24 not out while Pitcher compiled 27 before he was caught by Treadwell Gibbons Sr off Jermain Postlethwaite. Twenty wides added some valuable extras to the score.

Dwayne Leverock and Durham were the pick of Stars' bowling, snapping up three for 12 off ten overs and three for 21 off six overs respectively. Postlethwaite took two for 13 off five overs.

However, it was Kevin Hurdle who snatched the coveted scalp of Blakeney, caught by Maurice Lowe for a rare duck.

It was one for one then and St. David's progressed to 50 before the non-stop slide began. It was quickly 58 for four and then the next two wickets fell at 66 and the following two at 81. At 83 for nine, few were willing to bet St. David's would pass the three-figure threshold - and they didn't.

In their turn at the crease, Stars never encountered any serious difficulty though they lost their third and fourth wickets at 74.

By then, however, a vital victory was within sight and was duly reached. Delyone Borden grabbed two wickets for 18 runs in six overs, including top-scorer Treadwell Gibbons Jr. He was out leg before for 33. Steede and Durham were unbeaten on 11 and 13 respectively.