Bailey's Bay 131,

Somerset 132-9

Somerset hammered the final nail into Bailey's Bay's coffin yesterday at Somerset Cricket Club with this slim one-wicket win.

Chasing 132 for victory with 300 balls in which to do so, poor shot selection by the home team almost saw Bay come away with a rare win.

However, a nail-biting, unbeaten eight run ninth wicket partnership between Shannon Warner (six) and last man Darren Richardson (four), Somerset were able to snatch victory from their opponents and doom them to First Division play next season.

Earlier, another fine half-century by Sheridan (Baldy) Ming (52) went a long way to paving the way for Somerset's win, while Wendell White (22), Dwayne Basden (13) and Tony Cheeseman (13) also chipped in with useful knocks.

Ming cracked two fours and a six during his 145 minute stay at the crease, while White also managed two fours and a six off 30 deliveries.

Corey Hill and Dennis Pilgrim emerged as Bay's' most successful bowlers with three for 46 and three for 28 respectively, while young Rodney Trott (one for 28) continued to impress with his tidy off-spin offerings.

Jermaine Outerbridge, who also bowled tidily on a good line, grabbed one for 23.

Earlier, Bay got off to a miserable start after losing Dennis Trott (one) in the first over.

And despite spirited knocks from Masters (29), Jermaine Outerbridge (14), Pilgrim (15) and Yusef Pitt (19) the remaining Bay batsman failed to offer any real resistance against a Somerset attack that was spearheaded by Warner who grabbed three for 29 from a nine over spell which also contained three maidens.

Cheeseman (two for 42), Ming (two for nine), White (one for 28) and Shane Hollis (one for 19) also helped to reduce Bay to a modest total.