Bailey’s Bay maintained their unblemished start to the season after handing St George’s a five-wicket loss in a thrilling One Premier Division match at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

The home side restricted their opponents to 186 for seven after putting them in and replied with 188 for five with seven overs to spare to chalk up their third win in as many matches.

Bay were cruising at 120 without loss but lost five wickets inside of eight overs for 45 runs as St George’s fought their way back to make things interesting.

However, Stephen Outerbridge and Shaquille Outerbridge produced a match-winning 23-run partnership to carry their team safely across the line with wickets and balls to spare.

“Once again, it was not as smooth sailing as we would have liked but we are making good progress,” Terryn Fray, the Bay captain, said.

“The top order did really well today with a one hundred-odd partnership. I thought we batted well and everyone seemed to get a start today and then Stephen and young Shaquille pulled it through for us.”

Openers Rodney Trott and Coolridge Durham, who produced a century opening stand that laid a solid foundation, led the run chase with half-centuries.

Trott top scored with 60 from 115 balls with five fours while Durham gathered 50 from 93 balls and struck five fours and a six.

Stephen Outerbridge and Shaquille Outerbridge finished unbeaten on 17 and seven respectively, the former ending the game dramatically with a six over the mid-wicket boundary.

Detroy Smith, who led St George’s late fightback, was the pick of his team’s bowlers with three for 39 with all of his wickets coming during a menacing second spell from the northern end.

Onias Bascome and Ryan Steede claimed the remaining Bay wickets to fall.

Things might have panned out differently for the visiting side had they made the most of the chances that came their way particularly off the bat of Trott, who was dropped several times, including the first ball of the innings.

Durham was also put down at short third man.

Earlier, third-change bowler Jermaine Usher led the Bay bowling attack as St George’s were restricted under 200 after being sent in.

The left-arm spinner claimed three for 46. “Jermaine bowled really well today,” Fray said. “He came into the side because we had three guys out and he came in and fulfilled the role that he was asked to.

“He bowled well and picked up three wickets. He is a bowling all-rounder, so he can also hold the bat if asked.”

St George’s suffered a top-order collapse before their middle order steadied the ship to carry their team to a respectable total.

Steede and Mishael Paynter started the recovery by adding 33 runs for the fifth-wicket before Paynter and Damon Walker produced a further 52-runs for the sixth-wicket.

Paynter topped the St George’s batting with 38 from 67 balls, opener and wicketkeeper Temiko Wilson added 31 from 60 balls while Steede chipped in with 21 from 30 balls.

Smith (14), Herbie Bascome (11) and Onias Bascome (11) all made starts while Walker was unbeaten on 14 from 35 balls with two fours.

Derrick Brangman, Nhyrobi Carmichael and Trott took the remaining St George’s wickets.