Sea Breeze Oval (Southampton won toss): Southampton Rangers (2pts) beat Western Stars by two wickets

Southampton Rangers settled the two semi-final spots from group A when they handed Western Stars a second straight loss in the Twenty20 Tournament yesterday.

Rangers won on the last ball of the match after needing six runs from the final over after being set 82 to win.

Number ten batsman Ryan Belboda, not known for his batting, played a confident flick off his pads to mid-wicket to cross for the single that ended the game. It was the second last-ball loss for Stars in the competition after going down by one run to Cleveland last weekend.

However, the promoted side will be encouraged by the two close losses to two of last season’s top teams as they look ahead to their opening league match against Willow Cuts on May 8.

“They were both really close games and considering the games were pushed up early this season, especially the Twenty20, a lot of our guys weren’t ready for that type of cricket,” Brian Hall, the Stars captain, said.

“We fought hard, stayed together and we will keep moving forward. The 50-over league will start up and we’re in the Premier Divsion now so we can’t slacken off just because we lost in the Twenty20 tournament.

“The season has just begun and we’ll keep getting better and better throughout the season.”

Stars included Treadwell Gibbons Jr and Temiko Wilson for their first matches, though the batting did not click after being sent in by Rangers. Wilson top-scored with 27 at number three, while Hall contributed 18 as the two added 40 for the third wicket, after Kevin Tucker and Ryan Belboda removed Gibbons and Khiry Furbert with just 14 runs on the board.

“As long as we can put some runs on the board, I think we have a chance,” Hall said. “Our main goal is to avoid relegation and anything else is a bonus.”

Hasan Durham and Vernon Eve, the spin bowlers, led the Rangers bowling, taking two wickets apiece for nine and two runs respectively from their four overs. Eve also had two maidens late in the innings as Stars slumped from 58 for four, to 71 for eight.

Rangers lost Kevin Tucker in the second over, bowled by Hall, before Kwame Tucker scored 20 of the next 23 runs. Rangers then slumped to 29 for four as Stars fought back.

Janeiro Tucker, the Rangers captain, scored only four runs before Ricardo Brangman put on 30 for the fifth wicket with Hasan Durham who contributed a valuable 14 before he was fifth out on 59.

Raynor, making his Rangers debut, departed on 65 for six after scoring a joint-high 20, before Stars took two more wickets to keep it close in the late overs when Rangers needed ten runs off the last two overs, bowled by Makai Young and Gibbons.

After Young bowled Akale Bean, Eve and Belboda carried them to victory with three runs still needed off the last three balls.

Young and Hall claimed two wickets apiece from their four overs, Young giving up 16 runs and Hall 12, while Gibbons and youngster Jaiden Manders went for just 15 and 11 respectively in their four overs.

The win by Rangers assured semi-final spots for themselves and Cleveland, who meet next Saturday to determine who wins the group.

n Rain, combined with an uncovered pitch at White Hill Field, prevented any play in the First Division Twenty20 matches between Somerset Bridge and Somerset and Devonshire Recreation Club and PHC.