Burgess' heroics fall short in season's first tie
Terry Burgess' decision to go for the big hit proved his club's undoing as he became the final out with Hamilton Parish needing just one run to gain outright victory over home team Somerset. Instead the two teams produced the season's first tie.
It may have been that Burgess still had stars in his eyes after earlier claiming six wickets for 49 runs in a 15.1-over spell, which included a hat-trick off the first three balls of his fifth over.
However, his designs on being the match winner were dashed as the tail-ender skied a Perry Maybury delivery to Shannon Warner fielding at mid-off.
A valuable knock of 21 by number seven batsman Brian Morris enabled Parish to get into a position of strength after the first five wickets had fallen with just 47 runs on the board. He departed at 83 after engaging in partnerships of 12 and 24 runs with Irving Burgess (14) and Cal Burgess (12 not out).
Chris Caisey contributed 15 runs to the cause while Ricky Hill (17) also managed double figures.
Somerset's attack was once again spearheaded by Perry Maybury, who collected four scalps on the day. In 20 overs the former team captain conceded a measley 33 runs and was virtually unplayable.
Medium-pacer Anthony Bailey notched two wickets while Charles Swan, Warner and Donovan Livingston each collected one apiece.
Earlier on during the Somerset innings Jermaine Warner was the only batsman to apply himself and stand up in the face of some torrid fast bowling by Burgess who ripped through the top of the batting order.
Warner hit six fours and a six in his 36 and other than brother Shannon was the only Somerset player to reach double figures. Livingston (nought), Davon Wade (six), Maybury (six) and skipper Andre Manders (nought) all went cheaply as they slipped from 46 for one to 109 all out.
But in the end both teams had to be content with taking home eight points for their efforts.
Southampton 223 St. George's 133-7 Teenager Gary Williams claimed four wickets in the final over of the match, including a hat-trick off his first three deliveries, to end this drawn match at Wellington Oval on an exciting note.
Williams, the seventh bowler used by the visitors, had the Rangers fans wondering what might have been had he been introduced earlier as he removed Eugene Foggo, Kenny Phillips and Lewis Foggo in successive balls and then trapped Troy Hall lbw with the last ball of the game to leave the home team grateful for a good start by captain Wendell Smith and Dean Minors who put on 82 for the first wicket in just 67 minutes.
The St. George's innings did not start until 5.25 p.m. and from the first over it was clear they had every intention of making a chase for the 224 Rangers set them.
The first five overs produced 33 runs and after 10 overs they had 62 on the board.
But after Smith fell in the 15th over -- the final over before the last 20 -- for 37 and his brother Clay went for four to make it 90 for two, St. George's seldom looked interested in the runs as the final 20 overs produced just 50 runs.
Dean Minors anchored their innings with 52 in two hours and 18 minutes to bat himself into form for the England tour this weekend. Williams finished with four for 11 off 12 deliveries.
Earlier another teenager, Janeiro Tucker, led the Rangers batting with a dashing 75 not out in two hours and eight minutes while opener Keith Wainwright hit 67 in 185 minutes.
Kenny Phillips led the St. George's bowling for the second straight week with five for 40 from 16.5 overs while spinner David Adams took four for 64 from 19 overs.
Flatts 130 Willow Cuts 131-7 Skipper Dexter Basden took five wickets for 22 and then scored 26 runs to lead Willow Cuts to a three-wicket victory over Flatts at Devonshire Rec. field.
With the Willow Cuts bowlers giving away little, Flatts were made to struggle with the half-century coming up in 80 minutes.
Opener Troy Dean though managed to play comfortably for a while and was high man with 28 while John Carey followed with 27 not out.
It was Dean and Carey who held the innings together, putting on 43 for the third wicket after the first two wickets fell for 28.
Willow Cuts owed much of their success to the sloppy fielding of Flatts who dropped five catches.
Brandon Woolridge was the top bowler for Flatts with four for 39 while Derek Wright took two for 15.
JASON LEWIS -- During his unbeaten 50 on Saturday.