Willow Cuts 146 Drama gripped the West end as unbeaten Somerset snatched a thrilling two run win over their more fancied neighbours Willow Cuts at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

After posting a not so imposing 148, the home team underdogs appeared to be coasting to victory as Cuts collapsed to 76 for eight.

However, last recognised bat Gladwin Edness found a surprisingly resilient partner in Robert (Chops) Lambe, and with the former occupying most of the strike they served to frustrate Somerset's attack. While Edness battered the bowling, scoring mostly through boundaries -- six fours and a six -- Lambe held his own as the total inched agonisingly close to the required target.

Edness finally departed at for 49 with the score on 125, having played a Wendell White delivery onto his stumps, and it appeared a mere formality for Somerset to wrap up matters.

Yet Lambe and last man Durwood Cann had other ideas as they tortured skipper White and his troops in adding a further 19.

Meanwhile, White shuffled his attack, with David Gibbs, Francis Richardson and the skipper himself having cracks at the pair with little success. And it appeared as if the fates were in favour of the visitors when a straightforward offering from Lambe was dropped by Kareem Hollis at long on with the total 145.

The halo disappeared a ball later when Cann flicked to square leg and called for the run, only to turn in horror to see a direct hit by Richardson catch Lambe short.

"This was the game of my life. Neighbours, always rivals, my joy was to beat Willow Cuts and finally I did and I'm so happy and glad for that,'' said a jubilant White afterwards.

"It was very, very close, I thought we should have won a lot more comfortably, but we got into a panic and the two last guys decided to hang on.

"Cricket is a game of risk and uncertainties and I believe in fighting a little harder and to win this one we needed to fight a little harder.'' White had fast bowling partner and vice-captain Richardson and medium pacer Place to thank for a great deal of the success reaped, as Richardson took four wickets and Place three, including top line batsmen Dexter Basden (nought) and Richard Basden (11).

Earlier the skipper weighed in as the top batsman with a belligerent half century that included six sixes and four fours. He was assisted by Shaun Roberts, who tallied 29, with the only others in double figures Cordell Gilbert (15) and Craig Brangman (11).

Richard Basden seized four wickets for Cuts, while Ozzie Hinds took three for 24 with his medium deliveries and spinner Kevin Fubler two for 41.

Still, the result came as a surprise even though Somerset entered unbeaten, having seen off the likes of Flatts and PHC.

"Yes, we came in as the underdogs, but I believe in my team and know we're not underdogs to anybody,'' said White. "Looking at most of the teams in Bermuda I think our batting is on par with a lot of them, just that my guys have to fight harder. Some may find it surprising what we've done, but last year we played well and even then I told the guys that this year would be a good year. We've been building the team and these (results) show that Somerset is on the rebound.

"And I'm telling people...don't write off Somerset yet, we have a lot more surprises!'' Warwick 121 Western Stars 122-2 Western Stars made it three wins in a row with an easy eight wicket triumph against Warwick at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Set a target of 121, the visitors made short work of matters as Albert Steede blazed his way to an unbeaten 61 and was assisted by a rapid 26 from Jaja Millett.

Earlier right-arm spinner Justin Robinson proved the scourge of the home side as he claimed four for 48. He was assisted by Millett (two for 26) and Hassan Durham (two for nine), as Warwick's bats had few answers.

Stars joined Somerset and St. David's as the teams with perfect 3-0 records.

Police 169 Flatts 172-5 A solid all-round performance by Troy Dean inspired Flatts to a five-wicket victory over Police at Police Field, sending the home side to their first defeat in three games this season.

It was the first win for Flatts.

Dean took five wickets for 31 off nine overs, and was responsible for the modest total put up by Police. Then he spearheaded his team in batting with a inspirational knock of 48, stroking seven fours and two sixes.

Donovan Livingston led Police bats with 42 while Nyon Steede followed with 33.

Kenny Phlipps struck 19, David Greenidge 14, and Terry Thomas and skipper Stevie Lightbourne 11 apiece.

Also among the wickets for Flatts was Phillip Burgess with three for 29 off 5.4 overs while Gershon Gibbons had two for 14 off five overs.

Flatts suffered a shaky start when they lost their first two wickets for 26 but Phillip Burgess and Dean added stability with their positive approach, Burgess contributing 27.

Skipper Rahji Edness followed with a brisk 31 not out while Hewonnie Brown stroked 22 as Flatts required just 26 overs to reach their target.

Kenny Phillips led a lacklustre Police attack with two for 30 off six overs.

Social Club 44 Cleveland 45-1 Cleveland scored an easy nine-wicket win over Social Club at Wellington Oval, dismissing them in 23.3 overs as Merkell Smith II took four for 25 off 10 overs.

Only Kevin Lapsley (10) reached double figures for Social Club as Indian Hari Rawat took two for 11 and Earl Richardson two for four.

Cleveland knocked off their runs in only 8.2 overs with Courtney Trott scoring 20 not out.

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