St George’s strengthened their grip on third place in the One Premier Division after a comfortable win over Western Stars in a match reduced to 37 overs because of heavy rain at Wellington Oval yesterday.

In a match that started at 1.30pm, Stars were restricted to 111 for eight, with Ryan Steede, the St George’s player-coach, claiming three for seven.

After 13 overs they had just 29 runs on the board, with opener Rohan Davis and Andre Manders their top scorers with 21 and 22, respectively.

The Western Stars innings contained just seven fours as Macai Simmons, the St George’s captain, went for just 13 runs in his seven overs and Onias Bascome for only 11 runs from 7.1.

Nzari Paynter led the St George’s batting with 32 from 60 balls after opening the innings with Detroy Smith, who was caught behind for eight.

Paynter was fourth out when the score was 79 after driving straight back to bowler Justin Robinson.

A second-wicket stand of 43 between Paynter and his cousin Oronde Bascome laid the foundation for the St George’s run chase, Bascome dismissed for 23 when he was caught at mid-on by Rohan Davis off Robinson, who led the Stars bowling with two for 26.

Stars had some hope when Treadwell Gibbons had a short stay against his former team, falling for a duck after driving Davis to long-off where Nyon Steede held the skied chance.

After Paynter’s departure, Temiko Wilson, another former Stars player, and Simmons guided St George’s to victory with an unbroken stand of 35 for the fifth wicket. Justin Robinson was the pick of the Stars bowlers with two for 26.

n Eastern Counties rivals Bailey’s Bay and St David’s waited for more than five hours before their match at Sea Breeze Oval was called off.

No umpires showed up for the game, which was delayed because of rain.

The no-result will be a blow to St David’s title hopes, as Southampton Rangers beat Somerset by seven wickets.

n Willow Cuts kept up their promotion push with a five-wicket win over PHC at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday. PHC were dismissed for 113 in 36.4 overs with opener Kevin Lamtop scoring with 27 as Shamar Gomes claimed five for 28.

Cuts replied with 114 for five, with Dwight Basden hitting 47.