Willow Cuts 231

St.George's 232-7

A sparkling unbroken 64-run eighth-wicket partnership between Allan Douglas Jr (65) and Upal Dhammika (15) propelled St.George's to a nail-biting three-wicket Premier Division Knockout Cup triumph over Willow Cuts at Southampton Oval yesterday.

With their team struggling at 168 for seven and Cuts seemingly headed for victory, the St.George's lower order batsmen refused to go down without a fight, particularly Douglas who dominated the match-winning stand that catapulted the East Enders to a second cup triumph of the season.

Douglas, son of former Cleveland and St.George's star wicketkeeper Alan Sr, smashed seven fours and three towering sixes outside the small Oval off only 36 balls in 48 minutes - only hours after helping Warwick strip Southampton Rangers of the Western Counties Cup at the same venue.

The budding all-rounder pounded the Cuts bowlers into submission, reaching a deserved half-century off only 32 balls while Dhammika ably held his end of the bargain.

St.George's also owed much to the middle-order exploits of all-rounders Ryan Steede (16) and Herbie Bascome (45) as together the pair also produced a vital 65 runs for the fifth wicket, a stand that ultimately laid the foundation for the East Enders' hard-fought win. Bascome cracked four fours and a six off 53 balls after coming to the crease with his team in a spot of bother at 65 for four while Steede provided the perfect foil.

Detroy Smith (20) and wicketkeeper Jason Anderson (21) each made useful contributions at the top of the order before Cuts skipper Richard Basden and all-rounder Bergon Spencer combined to make the initial breakthrough.

“I'm very proud of this team and their achievements,” commented St.George's president Neil Paynter afterwards. “They have certainly surpassed pre-season expectations and have had a great season.”

After heaping praise upon cup hero Douglas, one of several youngsters in the team on which St.George's are pinning their future hopes, Paynter gave credit to skipper Gregg Foggo.

“I think the future is very, very bright at St.George's,” he added. “We are going to savour this moment and hopefully look forward to even bigger and better things to come. But full credit to Gregg (Foggo) and the rest of the players who have worked extremely hard for this success.”

Skipper Richard Basden led Cuts - who suffered their second straight defeat at the hands of an East End club in the KO Cup Final - in the bowling, seizing two for 29 off ten overs including three maidens while veterans Charles (Bucky) Swan, Spencer, Reggie Tucker Jr and youngster Sheroy Fubler each grabbed one wicket apiece.

Earlier Cuts compiled what appeared to be a formidable score of 231 all out in 47.1 overs on the back of solid knocks of 55 from the bat of Tucker, 45 runs from Trevor Dickinson and veteran opener Dexter Basden who chipped in with a useful 34.

Tucker cracked six fours and two sixes off 64 balls and reached his half-century in 95 minutes off exactly 50 balls while Dickinson stroked five fours and a six off 58 balls and occupied the crease for 123 minutes. Skipper Basden added 25 (four fours) while Spencer hit a typically aggressive 21 off only seven deliveries.

Steede was the pick of St.George's bowling, the towering player collected three for 41 from six overs. Spinner Travis Smith and Bascome each claimed two scalps while Foggo, Douglas - who also took a fine catch in the field - and Burt each took one wicket apiece.

However, both teams left much to be desired in the field as St.George's squandered 41 in extras and Cuts 42 for a combined 83 runs.