Southampton 137 The more things change the more they stay the same ...

All too familiar scenarios unfolded for Western Stars and Southampton Rangers as the new cricket season kicked off at Sea Breeze Oval over the weekend.

However, while the St. John's Road men left Sea Breeze yesterday revelling in the throes of another championship, their South Shore counterparts once again departed with a feeling of what might have been.

A belligerent knock of 84 by veteran allrounder Arnold Manders ultimately assured that Stars claimed the fifth and final crown jewel, as they defeated Rangers by 105 runs in the long delayed 2000 Knock-Out Cup final.

Meanwhile, for Rangers it was that sinking feeling of being a bridesmaid once more, having been runners-up to Stars in the Champion of Champions and Camel Cup last season.

With Stars struggling at 97-for-five and the top order, aside from Gershon Gibbons who managed a classy 32, having failed, Rangers looked in with a real shot early on ... until Manders appeared at the crease.

Treating all manner of bowler with ultimate disdain, the former Bermuda captain totally destroyed any hope the opposition had of dismissing Stars for a low total.

By the time the dust resettled Manders, having faced just 44 balls, had sent some nine skyward out of the park and three more to the boundary via ground express. He and Cleon Scotland put on 121 runs for the sixth wicket before the latter fell at 218 for a personal contribution of 47.

Manders was eventually caught by Keith Wainwright off Janeiro Tucker at 220, but the damage had well and truly been done.

The tail continued to wag as new signee Dwayne Leverock registered 24 at number eight, with Stars finally dismissed for 255, a total that was later adjusted to 242 due to rain.

In reply Rangers' top order similarly struggled, slumping to 42-for-three before Stevie Lightbourne and Janeiro Tucker steadied the ship putting on 52 for the fourth wicket and moving the total to 94, when Lightbourne went for one heave too many off Leverock, holing out to Gibbons in the deep for 40.

It was all over once Tucker (27) top edged a simple catch to Leverock at short third man, the tail soon crumbling as they were all out for 137.

Leverock emerged as the pick of the bowlers taking four-for-31, while Justin Robinson and Millett each seized a pair.

"It was a great team effort, there's no one man band in our squad. We have a very good batting team, a very good bowling team, and more importantly, we have a very good fielding team, so all in all, we have three good departments,'' said skipper Albert Steede, who had a rare failing with the bat. "I think we showed our depth and, hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

"It's a great feeling to win all five trophies ... not just for me as skipper, but for the whole team.'' Asked whether any great concern had swept over the side during the period that they were struggling, Steede said he always remained optimistic of being able to mount a fightback.

"We remained patient and part of that's because we have a lot of experience,'' said Steede, now in his second year at the helm. "I knew that the runs would come eventually on this wicket.

"It's our very first game and our early order batsmen weren't in good niche, but hopefully we'll work that out in training.

"Arnold showed his veteran leadership with a very valuable 84, which goes to show how the mix of youth and experience can work out well. All of our youngsters had good games today ... it was a good start.'' Rangers defeated Bailey's Bay by 123 runs in Saturday's semi-final match.

Rangers scored 286-9 behind a Janeiro Tucker century, while Bay replied with just 163.

Photos by Tamell Simons Heave ho: Arnold Manders may have failed to connect on this attempted drive, but the Western Stars allrounder did so more often than not during a whirlwind innings of 84 yesterday.

Eyes on the ball: Western Stars' Cleon Scotland clips this ball to the leg side during an innings of 47 in yesterday's Knock-Out final at Sea Breeze Oval.