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Rangers target a second T20 title

Potent attack: Rangers left arm spinner Derek Brangman (Photo by Nicola Muirhead)

Three weeks after winning the Twenty20 final for the 2014 season, Southampton Rangers will attempt to become this season’s champions when they meet Bailey’s Bay in the Premier Division final at Somerset Cricket Club tomorrow.

Two finals are scheduled for the day, with Western Stars and Devonshire Recreation Club meeting in the First Division final at 11am.

The main final at 3pm will generate the most interest as, arguably, the two strongest teams in the Premier Division go head-to-head for the third time this season.

Rangers were convincing winners in both those matches, a Belco Cup semi-final, which they won by 125 runs and then a T20 group B match, winning by seven wickets. On both occasions, Bay failed to post 100 as the Rangers bowlers dominated.

Rangers possess possibly the strongest bowling attack in the league, as they showed last weekend when they managed just 101 against Flatts but still won after their opponents fell seven runs short of their target.

Bay were without Stephen Outerbridge and Malachi Jones during their recent loss to Bay and their return will strengthen the side.

Irving Romaine, the Bay coach, has played in the team’s last two T20 matches and could perform a key role with both the bat and ball, in much the same way Janeiro Tucker and Dion Stovell could do for Rangers.

Stovell scored 102 not out against Flatts in the semi-final last weekend while Bay beat St David’s by six wickets in the other semi-final at Lord’s.

Central Counties rivals Western Stars and Devonshire Recreation Club will be aiming for their first trophy of the season, although for both teams promotion is the priority.

Stars could be without a couple of key players as they put their unbeaten record on the line.

“We may not be at full strength this weekend and two of my key players may be unavailable,” Wendell Smith, the team’s coach, said. “We’re 5-0 and it’s not so much the results I’m looking at but the performances.

“We’re winning by batting well but we haven’t had a full squad, each week there are people unavailable.

“The T20 final is not our priority, it’s trying to get that number one [league] spot so we don’t have to have a play-off match. It’s not going to be a two-horse race, we had an upset already where PHC beat St George’s, so we’re not taking anybody for granted.”

Smith, who coached St David’s to a second straight league title last season, said: “I’m extremely pleased with the commitment that the players are showing here at Western Stars. When I come to training the guys who are early are warming up without me having to tell them and they’re listening.

“There are a few kinks we’re ironing out like our running between the wickets, but for the most part I’m really pleased. It’s making me realise I did the right thing by continuing coaching.”