Somerset 219

Southampton 222-4

An unbeaten century by Stevie Lightbourne (101) coupled with a fine all-round effort from Kenny Phillips helped guide Southampton to a comfortable six-wicket win over Somerset at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

It was Southampton's second win over their western counterparts in as many outings, having notched a two-wicket victory at Somerset Cricket Club a week earlier.

Batting first on a lively strip, Somerset lost opener Curtis Jackson with 29 runs on the board but were able to regroup with opener Sheridan Ming (58) continuing his fine early season form.

Ming and Davon Wade (25) put on 88 runs for the second wicket before spinner David Saltus made the breakthrough to have Ming snapped up by Ryan Belboda.

Ming cracked six fours and two sixes during two-hour stay while Wade stroked three fours.

Former Somerset skipper Wendell White (20) also enjoyed a solid knock at the top of the order, and despite his departure after being brilliantly caught at cover point by Ricky Brangman off the bowling of Saltus, the west enders were comfortably poised at 142 for three.

However, Somerset's middle order would let them down miserably with the next five wickets falling for just 42 runs. Only Jacobi Robinson (25) and Shannon Warner (12) managed to reach double figures as they were all out for 219.

Phillips took three for 26 off just 4.5 overs, Saltus three for 47, while player/coach Clevie Wade, Olin Jones and Quinton Sherlock all managed to grab a wicket apiece. Southampton were also costly in the field, yielding 47 runs in extras.

Rangers welcomed Jones back to the top of their batting order and the veteran showed his appreciation by finding the gaps for a polished 16 before he was painfully run out when seemingly set for a big total.

Keith Wainwright and young Ian Armstrong immediately set about rebuilding the innings before Armstrong's innings came to an abrupt halt when he was struck in the head by a rising Robinson delivery and whisked away to hospital.

And after Wainwright (24) was superbly caught at first slip by White, Phillips (50) and Lightbourne set the field ablaze as they combined in a swashbuckling 79-run partnership.

Phillips smashed four fours and four sixes as he hung around for an hour and eight minutes.

Sherlock would be the final Southampton wicket to fall at 190 for four and with victory in sight, the only thing that remained to be seen was just whether or not Lightbourne would reach triple digits.

Skipper Janeiro Tucker ensured this by unselfishly giving his veteran partner most of the strike. Lightbourne didn't disappoint, bringing up his ton in grand style as he smashed Reid Jones to the long-off boundary for four.

Put down earlier by David Gibbs, Lightbourne stroked nine fours and four sixes during his unbeaten knock.

Ming was Somerset's best bowler with one for 19, while Jackson, who picked up the wicket of Phillips on the very first ball he delivered, finished with one for 26 and Robinson one for 55.