Bailey's Bay 174-6 Twice at a crucial stage Irving Romaine came to the rescue of Bailey's Bay in the Camel Cup final at St. David's yesterday... first with his seldom used off-spinners and then with an important knock of 66 as a four wicket victory was achieved with four balls remaining.

In the absence of four players because of the wedding of Glenn (Smith) Blakeney (captain Charlie Marshall, Cal Dill and Dennis Pilgrim were the others, while Noel Gibbons is off the Island), Bay were weakened in both departments.

But up stepped Romaine to bowl 10 tidy overs for only 31 runs while claiming two vital wickets in the middle of the St. George's innings. Then in a vital partnership for the seventh wicket Romaine and Anthony Braithwaite added 85 to win the match in the final over.

It was Bay's third Camel Cup triumph in the last four years while St.

George's, chasing a record fourth win, have now lost in three straight finals.

St. George's made early progress and had good reason to be confident after the dismissal of openers Ricky Hill and captain Roger Trott with just 40 on the board. Hill was stumped off a wide delivery while Trott was caught behind by Minors.

Romaine, coming to the crease at 53-3 in the 19th over, finished as high man with 66 not out with five boundaries while Braithwaite provided valuable support with an unbeaten knock of 33 as the stand lasted between the 31st and 49th overs.

"At the time I came to the wicket we still had more balls left than runs,'' Romaine recalled. "We just kept taking the singles and it was easy. "I just let Braithwaite talk to me as the senior player, I was just listening to him.'' In the space of six overs and 24 runs, Romaine watched three partners come and go as Chris Smith, Corey Hill and Clarkie Trott went between the 25th and 31st overs. But those would be the last wickets to fall as gradually Romaine and Braithwaite stuck to their task as the game went into the final 10 overs with Bay still needing 43 to win.

Two overs before Troy Bean dropped Romaine at deep extra cover when the score was 122 and it proved costly.

Bay went into the last three overs needing 12 runs and then 11 off the final two.

Bascome was the best of the St. George's bowlers, taking two for 33 from 9.2 overs.

Earlier, Ricky Hill claimed two for 19 from 10 unchanged overs and Clarkie Trott three for 27 off nine. St. George's never found runs easy to come by, with a generous helping of extras leading the way with 54. Thirty-two of those came in the first 50 runs scored between openers Eugene Foggo and Dean Minors who was high man with 32.

Next high was Clay Smith with 18 and Hall with 17 in the middle order.

Romaine now hopes his slow bowling will be taken more seriously.

"I bowl every day in training but they don't take me serious,'' he explained.

"But I had to bowl today because of Glenn's wedding. I think I'm capable of bowling in other games.'' Bay beat champions Western Stars in the semi-final by 63 runs on Saturday, restricting Stars to 123 in 32.4 overs after Gary Brangman claimed six for 26 in the Bay innings of 186-9. Ricky Hill scored 43 and Braithwaite 25 not out in the tail-end. Stars lost their last five wickets for 23 runs. St. George's defeated Willow Cuts by two wickets in the final over. Chasing 170 for victory they had an opening stand of 67 between Eugene Foggo and Dean Minors before they slumped to 82-5 in just eight overs. Dexter Basden scored 51 for Cuts while Minors hit 42 for St. George's.

BCBC Select XI to meet India on Thursday at Somerset: Donald Norford, Calvin Dill, Shae Pitcher, Olin Jones (capt), Kwame Tucker, Jason Simons, Gary Williams, Reid Jones, Cleon Scotland, Jason Lewis, Gregg Foggo, Don Vickers, Justin Robinson, Dale Benjamin, Daniel Caines.