East All-Stars 109-4 Just as the East All-Stars were closing in on victory, so too were the rain clouds moving in over Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

The elements won that battle as the All-Stars had to settle for victory on a faster scoring rate after rain washed out play with the local team just 21 runs short of victory.

Compared to two years ago when the under-17 team went 0-6 in the International Youth Tournament, this performance was an encouraging one for youth cricket as the youngsters performed impressively.

First there was O.J. Pitcher's five wickets for 25 runs which slowed up a good start by the Canadians who went from 51 without loss to 66-5 in the space of 35 minutes.

And then Pitcher and his St. David's team-mates Chris Foggo and Landro Minors all got in the 20s to lay the foundation for what should have been an outright victory.

Pitcher, just off a tour of Canada with the senior national team, claimed a wicket with his first over of medium pace to break up a 92 minute opening stand between Aneel Nauth and Gibran Rahaman, having the latter caught and bowled for 11.

Mackie Crane, also just back from Canada, then struck at the other end when he bowled key batsman Ashish Bagai for two to make it 65-2. In short time it was 66-5 with Pitcher picking up two more wickets and Crane removing opener Nauth for 30 which came in 115 minutes.

Ajay Minhas led a mini revival with 32 in the middle order with three fours and a six before Pitcher claimed two more wickets in his 10 overs which included four maidens as the visitors slumped again, this time from 98-6 to 118-9 in 31 minutes. Delvin Borden ended the innings with two for four from 1.5 overs.

Chris Foggo (24) and Brandon Outerbridge (7) reduced the East's winning target to under 100 with an opening stand of 36 before Outerbridge was trapped lbw.

Foggo was run out on 51 before a third wicket stand of 50 between O.J.Pitcher and Minors took them to the brink of victory.

Pitcher, steady and assured in his 43 minutes at the crease, was stumped for 21 while Minors went on to hit 25 not out when the rain sent the teams off at 5.07 p.m., never to return.

Canada play their second match tomorrow when they travel to Wellington Oval to meet the national youth team, which should include many of the same players from this East team that was captained by Stephen Outerbridge.