Lord’s (Bailey’s Bay won toss) Bailey’s Bay beat Cleveland by 19 runs

Allan Douglas, subject of an intended late transfer to St David’s, turned up for Cleveland on the weekend and almost won the match for them yesterday with a swashbuckling knock of 72 from 30 balls to put fear in holders Bailey’s Bay in the Twenty20 semi-final.

Bay, restricted to 116 for six in their 20 overs, were coasting to victory inside the first ten overs after taking six Cleveland wickets for just 11 runs. But then up stepped Douglas to do what he does pretty well, smashing boundaries all around the ground to set about changing the match during a seventh-wicket stand of 71 with captain Dennis Musson that threatened Bay’s reign as champions.

Douglas, who trained with Cleveland on Thursday evening, was winning back over the Cleveland fans as he stroked eight sixes to keep his team in contention for a spot in next weekend’s final.

However, he went for one six too many in the thirteenth over and was caught on the deep midwicket boundary by Malachi Jones after catching a full toss from spinner Derrick Brangman on the toe of his bat.

He went off cursing his luck and slapping his bat against his pads as he knew the dismissal could turn the match back in Bay’s favour. And it did as Cleveland did not have enough left in their batting after that to threaten. Musson, their last hope, was bowled by captain Rodney Trott for 13 as Cleveland slumped to 97 all out.

Bay wrapped up victory on the first ball of the last over when Jason Simons, who went off injured earlier, was caught in the deep by Jermaine Usher off Stephen Outerbridge whose bowling is proving valuable in the shorter version of the game.

“That’s T20, Dougie played one of the better innings I’ve seen this season, 72 off 30 balls would change any game in that situation,” Irving Romaine, the Bay coach, said. “Unlucky he got out on a full pitch but the game was in their hands at that time.

“After that they cracked under pressure. Also lucky for us, Jason [Simons] went off with a hurt calf and when he came back he lacked mobility and picked out a ball to hit to midwicket to Jermaine to get out. The guys kept their composure and did what they had to do.”

Brangman led the Bay bowling with three for 30 from four overs, after starting with a maiden and then having a double-wicket maiden in his second over as Cleveland’s early troubles began.

Malachi Jones, who shared the new ball with Brangman, claimed two for seven, while Trott took two for ten and Outerbridge two for 15.

Earlier, Outerbridge carried the Bay batting once again, scoring 46 from 48 balls with three fours and a six, after coming in at No 5 at 38 for three. Opener Terryn Fray scored 20 and wicketkeeper Azende Furbert 19.

Dennis Musson was the pick of the Cleveland bowlers, taking two for 31 from his four overs.