Alfred Carter, the Somerset Bridge coach, believes that spin bowling could hold the key to his team’s bid to dethrone holders Southampton Rangers in today’s Western Counties final at PHC Field.

Joshua Gilbert and Justin Corday, two guest players, spearhead a three-pronged spin attack Carter, a former Bridge all-rounder, is hoping can exploit a Rangers batting order he feels is vulnerable to slow bowling.

“Over the years Rangers seem to struggle a lot with spin and even when I was playing they didn’t like spin, so this is something we took into consideration,” he said.

Gilbert and club player Bilal Lambert are off spinners while Corday, who took five-wickets playing for the President’s XI in Somerset’s Cup Match trial, turns it away from the right hander.

Whether Bridge’s bid holds substance hinges largely on their ability to contain the explosive threat of Janeiro Tucker, the Rangers captain, and Dion Stovell, who returns as a guest player.

Tucker and Stovell rescued Rangers in the previous round against Willow Cuts, putting on a hundred for the fifth-wicket, a stand that ultimately put the match beyond the reach of the holders.

“We have dissected Rangers’ team and Janeiro and Dion were the key players we talked about a little more than the other guys,” Carter said. “We want to bowl them out and we have five seamers and three spinners who I think can get the job done.

“It’s a good all round attack I think can get wickets if they put the ball in the right spots.”

Carter, who played under Mackie Simmons, the late Somerset Cup Match star, during his playing stint at Bridge, also believes his team has strength in depth when it comes to batting.

“I think the lineup we have is pretty strong all the way down to number 11,” he said. “Everybody is capable of making contributions and hopefully everyone chips in and we can put up a good total to defend.”

Gilbert, Corday and Jason Smith are all making their debuts in the competition as colts in a Bridge team that also boasts England-based duo Wayne Ball Jr and McClaren Smith, and stalwarts Noel Woods, the captain, and Donnie Charles.

“I think we have a very strong lineup, this is no pushover team,” Carter said.

As a top-flight side coming up against First Division opposition, Rangers are the firm favourites, something Carter believes may work to his team’s advantage.

“Bridge have no pressure, we are just going to go all out,” Carter said. “We have nothing to lose and my players told me they intend to put their best foot forward and I hope everybody shows up on the day.”

Rangers were forced to make one change to their squad from the one that beat Cuts by 36 runs, with Derrick Brangman coming in as a guest player to replace brother Ricardo, the Rangers wicketkeeper, who is serving a three-match ban for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In Ricardo Brangman’s absence Kwame Tucker will take over behind the stumps, while he is also expected to open the innings with the evergreen Curtis Jackson.

Today’s match begins at 11am.

TEAMS

Southampton Rangers: Kwame Tucker, Curtis Jackson, Alex Dore, Dion Stovell, Janeiro Tucker, Derrick Brangman, Jason Wade, Hasan Durham, Kevin Tucker, Ryan Belboda, Vernon Eve.

Somerset Bridge: Donnie Charles, Jason Smith, Shawn Riley, Noel Woods, Joshua Gilbert, McClaren Smith, Scott Tucker, Justin Corday, Clarence Trott, Bilal Lambert, Wayne Ball Jr. Reserves: Jermaine Nisbett, Kunta Armstrong.