St. David's 243

Cleveland 245-8

Cleveland scored a surprise victory over St. David's at Lord's yesterday, scoring the winning run with just two balls remaining in the final over of the game and with two wickets in hand.

In chase after their winning target of 244 the visitors got solid batting support from veteran Carlton Smith who hammered 79 with four sixes and nine fours and coach Clay Smith who remained undefeated on 50 when victory was reached.

He finished with two sixes and four fours.

Also among the runs for Cleveland were opener Aaron Adams on 31 and skipper Jason Simons on 16.

Carlton Smith and Clay Smith tore the heart out of the lacklustre St. David's bowling attack by adding 143 for the sixth wicket, taking the total from 83 for five to 226 and within range of their winning target.

The former departed leaving Clay Smith and the tail with the task of adding the few remaining runs to stun the home side.

St. David's struck early by taking the wicket of opener Stephen Douglas Jr. (4) with just five runs scored but that wasn't the sign of things to come as Adams and skipper Simons added 55 for the second wicket as the St. David's attack were made to toil for wickets for the rest of the game.

Arthur and Justin Pitcher were the top wicket takers for the East Enders both finishing with three for 42 off 10 overs.

Earlier St. David's reached a formidable total thanks to fine knocks from O.J.Pitcher who finished on 78 with five fours and skipper Lionel Cann whose 69 saw him stroke two sixes and five fours.

Cleveland had to be wondering what total they would have restricted the home side to, had skipper Jason Simons not dropped Cann when he was on three and the team floundering on 30 for four.

The blunder opened the gate for a 137-run fifth wicket stand between Pitcher and Cann which was a stand that saved them from certain disaster.

Tamauri Tucker was the best bowler for Cleveland with three for 52 off 10 overs, while spinner Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock, who surprisingly took the new ball, claimed two for 29 off 10 overs with a maiden.

Somerset CC 251

Devonshire Rec. 130

Dwight Basden and Maurico Bassett stroked half-centuries and left-arm orthodox spinner Hasan Durham picked up his first five- wicket haul of the season to steer Somerset to a comfortable 121 run victory over Devonshire at Somerset Cricket Club.

Basden clobbered seven fours and four sixes during a top knock of 66, achieved off 77 balls, while Bassett hit an equally robust 54 off 79 deliveries that included four fours and three sixes to prop the hosts up to their eventual total.

Seamers Dennis Williams and Allan Douglas jr were the pick of the Devonshire bowling, claiming two for 48 and two for 24 respectively. Ricardo Brangman jr (17), Steven Bremar jr (29) and Jeremy Fray (24) gave Devonshire a promising start.

But once Somerset skipper Robinson turned the ball over to his spinners, veteran Durham and understudy Marcus Johnston, they simply had things all their own way as Devonshire suddenly found runs hard to come by.

Durham returned to peak form, claiming five for 35 off nine overs with one maiden. And he received the solid backing of Johnston who took two for 36 off six overs before Devonshire's innings came to a close when Durham combined with his deputy to have last man Fray caught on the final ball of the 28th over.

Flatts 137

PHC 139 for four

Fiqre Crockwell continued his early season good form with the bat as he smashed 45 runs to guide PHC to a six-wicket win over ten-men Flatts at White Hill Field in the First Division.

Crockwell joined PHC from St.David's at the beginning of the season and has yet to be dismissed under 40 runs in his last four visits to the crease.

And yesterday would be no exception as the early order bat kept his new team firmly on course for victory after restricting Flatts to a modest total.

Isiah Lewis claimed one for 21 to lead the Flatts attack.

Earlier, former national team cricketer Dean Minors thumped 40 runs to give his team a more respectable total to defend. Seamer Neil Anglin took three for 42 to carry the PHC attack. See page 15 for this weekend's other Premier and First Division match reports.