Unbeaten Southampton Rangers dealt a huge blow to St David’s hopes of a third straight league title when they handed them their second straight home defeat yesterday.

The match did not start until 1.35pm because of a damp wicket and was reduced to 37 overs a side, and Rangers made a 165 for five after being sent in to bat.

Dion Stovell rescued Rangers with a typically brisk 73 after coming to the crease at 7 for two in the sixth over after Curtis Jackson and Shannon Rayner were dismissed in successive overs from George O’Brien and Cejay Outerbridge.

Stovell and opener Oronde Bascome added 64 for the third wicket as Rangers reached 71 by the 20th over when Bascome departed for 27.

Another good stand of 52 for the fourth wicket between Stovell and Janeiro Tucker, the Rangers captain, kept their side on course for a good total to defend. Delyone Borden was the only St David’s bowler to take more than one wicket, finishing with two for 29 from eight overs.

A brief stoppage for rain early in the St David’s innings reduced their target to 148 in 33 overs but even that proved too steep for St David’s. In the end after some tight bowling by Ryan Belboda and Janeiro Tucker slowed up their run chase after they were 83 for four after 23 overs, needing a further 65 off the last ten overs.

Ryan Belboda bowled danger man George O’Brien for 27 in the 25th over, and when Rudell Pitcher fell to Vernon Eve one run later St David’s hopes began to fade. Delyone Borden hung in for a defiant 17 before he was seventh out as Rangers kept their grip on the match.

Going into the last five overs St David’s still needed 53 for victory.

Shea Pitcher was the other main contributor, scoring 20 of the first 23 runs for the first wicket. Janeiro Tucker claimed two for nine off six overs of tight medium pace, while Vernon Eve claimed two for 21 and Ryan Belboda two for 22.

“I’m glad we came through victorious today. We are taking one game at a time, just training and working together,” Ricky Brangman, the Rangers coach, said.

•Willow Cuts picked up an important victory at Wellington Oval yesterday when they beat Cleveland by four wickets.

Set 209 to win in 44 overs after rain reduced the Willow Cuts target from the 238-8 posted by Cleveland, Cuts were led by veteran Dexter Basden who scored 69, while Ryan Shepherd supported with 48.

Kavon Fubler and Dean Stephens added 29 and 28 as Treadwell Gibbons was the top Cleveland bowler with four for 25 from nine overs.

Earlier, Gibbons laid the foundation for Cleveland’s total, scoring 88 at the top of their batting order. Gibbons was forced to rebuild the Cleveland innings after Adrian Burrows and Clay Darrell both went cheaply.

Jason Anderson, batting at number four, supported with 48, while Allan Douglas and Damali Bell contributed 22 and 25 not out respectively in the middle order.

Sheroy Fubler claimed three for 30 from six overs for Willow Cuts.