The senior Brangman belted three successive boundaries off seamer Milton Best who was knocked out of the attack after going for 17 runs in his third and final over.

But with the half century milestone beckoning, Brangman went for one boundary too many and was held in the deep by Celestine, who made up considerable ground before taking a high catch to raise Police's hopes of retaining the cup.

Brangman's dismissal brought son Derrick back out to the crease and after being put down in the deep off the bowling of makeshift spinner Celestine in the 28th over, the Devonshire skipper settled down and anchored his team to victory.

He faced 36 balls in 84 minutes and stroked four boundaries including a beautifully timed six off left-arm seamer Pierre that soared over square leg and disappeared into the crowd.

Brangman added 37 runs for the fifth wicket with Ian Armstrong (17) after two wickets fell in the space of eight runs and along with Kameron Fox (eight not out) added a further 30 runs in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand that ended Police's rein as champions at the final hurdle.

Willow Cuts 156

S'ton Rangers 157-3

Dion Stovell claimed two wickets and then blasted a century as cup holders Southampton Rangers handed Willow Cuts a seven-wicket loss to comfortably retain the Western Counties Cup at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

Stovell managed figures of two for 34 off ten overs that included three maidens with his off spin as Cuts struggled to come to grips with the bowling after being sent in to bat on a green top.

Left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock (three for 13) paid a fitting tribute to his late grandfather (Kenneth Russell Leverock) while Janeiro Tucker (two for 27) was also a constant threat. Ryan Shepperd led the Cuts' resistance with 37 followed by Jermaine Trott who slammed 30 and Omar Amory who chipped in with 19.

Rangers took only 16.3 overs to put Cuts out of their misery with Stovell leading the way with a boundary-filled 100 off 62 balls.

Stovell dominated stands of 48 for the first wicket with Kwame Tucker (15) and 92 for the second with Curtis Jackson (23) before he became the third and final Rangers wicket to fall just four runs shy of victory.

Guest player Cal (Patches) Dill was Cuts' best bowler with figures of one for 31 off 6.3 overs.

Rangers will now meet challengers Warwick in the third round at Southampton Oval on August 8.