Bailey's Bay 196-3 Spurred by veteran batsmen Charlie Marshall and Noel Gibbons, Bailey's Bay successfully retained the treasured Eastern Counties Cup with a victory against arch rivals St. David's on Saturday.

Marshall, later named man-of-the-series, carefully grafted his way to an unbeaten 66, while Gibbons contrasted his team-mate, exploding for 45, just missing scoring his first half century in the competition since 1986.

The champions were, however, aided by St. David's captain Lionel Cann, who announced a sporting declaration at 2.39 p.m., allowing Bay plenty of time to go in search of victory.

Set a very reachable target, Bay skipper Ricky Hill and opening partner Devrae Hollis quickly set about the task with Hill in flourishing form early on, racing to 16 before a rising delivery from medium pacer Herbie Bascome smashed against his finger, causing him to retire to the pavilion.

Hollis was joined by Marshall, but their partnership was fleeting as Dale Fox had Hollis caught by Bascome for two, with the score on 24.

It was then Glenn Smith's turn to test his fortunes against the Islanders and he raced to 19, hitting two fours and a six while putting on 35 for the second wicket with Marshall.

His innings was abruptly ended by the introduction of colt Kameron Fox to the attack, the latter's orthodox, left-arm spin proving Smith's ultimate undoing.

Having received treatment Hill returned to the crease, adding 38 with Marshall and not appearing at all troubled by the constant changes being made by Cann.

His aggressiveness eventually cost him as he was tempted into driving Del Hollis, only to be caught by an alert Bascome fielding in the covers for a personal contribution of 31.

Hill's departure, though, marked the end of St. David's success in the field as Marshall and Gibbons put their heads down.

On a pitch offering little to the bowlers, Gibbons was severe on anything slightly wayward and took a particular liking to Bascome, slamming the hapless bowler for 14 during his fifth over, including a six and two fours.

Toward the end, and with victory all but assured, Gibbons tried desperately to reach the half-century mark, eschewing singles for the sake of a boundary, one which never came as Bay passed the required target with four byes from Dale Fox.

Earlier St. David's had reached a respectable total as a result of solid middle order batting from Cann and Phillip Pitcher along with useful contributions from the top order.

Cann was typically belligerent in his manner, battering Bay's attack for a lightning 46 that included five fours and three sixes.

His followed a similar whirlwind effort by Pitcher, whose 37 contained three monstrous blasts that landed outside the ground and three fours.

Guest players Albert Steede (21) and Wendell Smith provided a solid although somewhat slow beginning, putting on 54 for the first wicket before Steede was the first to go.

Colt Eddie Lamb (20) played the perfect foil role, anchoring alongside Smith until he was dismissed at 66 and then performing similar duties as he and Pitcher added 43 for the third wicket and a further 64 partnered by Cann.

Clarkie Trott engineered a collapse at 173, seizing three wickets including that of Cann, Del Hollis and Bascome and two runs later Anthony Braithwaite had Lamb also removed.

Shea Pitcher managed 15 not out batting at number eight, but with no other recognised batsman and time of the essence Cann elected to declare, a decision which ultimately failed.

Trott ended with five for 63, Braithwaite two for 57 and Gibbons one for 25.