Fiqre Crockwell hit an unbeaten 89 as St David’s made an emphatic start to the defence of their Logic Premier Division title yesterday.

The Islanders cruised to an eight-wicket win over Willow Cuts at Somerset, chasing down the 173 run target in just 20.4 overs.

Justin Pitcher starred for St David’s with the ball, taking four for 44 in his ten overs, while Del Hollis chipped in with three for 17 as Willow Cuts were bowled out for 172 in 34.3 overs.

Only Dean Stevens provided any resistance, and his 53 at least gave the Cuts bowlers something to defend. St David’s task would have been even easier but for the 46 extras they conceded, including a whopping 36 wides.

As it was the only hiccup in the run chase was the early loss of Delyone Borden for nine, but that just brought OJ Pitcher to the crease, and he and Crockwell put on 128 for the second wicket. OJ Pitcher eventually fell to Kevon Fubler for 39, but St David’s were 146 for two by then and Sammy Robinson added an unbeaten 20 to take them to victory.

St David’s win was their second of the weekend, and followed an equally impressive seven-wicket triumph over Cleveland at Lord’s on Saturday.

Again the defending champions were too strong for their opponents, although Cleveland’s bowlers did at least make the St David’s batsmen work for their victory.

Needing 170 to win, Robinson and Loren Marshall shared a 126-run partnership to rescue their side from a precarious 44 for three after Treadwell Gibbons had claimed the wickets of Crockwell and OJ Pitcher. Clay Darrell started the mini collapse when he had Borden caught behind by Jason Anderson for eight.

However, Robinson and Marshall dug in and hit unbeaten half centuries, with Robinson scoring 50 and Marshall 59 as St David’s reached their target in 42.5 overs.

That Cleveland had anything to defend was entirely down to Chris Foggo’s unbeaten 87. Only two other Cuts batsmen made double figures, and the 20 wides St David’s bowled added some vital runs to the total.