St. David's 163-7 St. David's went on the defensive after losing openers Wendell Smith and Albert Steede -- and it nearly cost them their Eastern Counties crown on Saturday at Sea Breeze Oval.

The champions were in a good position at 87 without loss after 24 overs in pursuit of Flatts' target of 221. Given 62 of the 118 overs required to be bowled during the day to achieve victory, the Islanders were on the back foot soon after reaching 100 in the 35th over.

That cautious approach soon had them in deep trouble at 122 for six by the 47th over before veteran Allen Richardson steadied things with 20 not out in 77 minutes.

Needing to claim four wickets in the last 15 overs, Flatts managed just one more before Richardson and captain Graham Fox accepted the offer of bad light from umpires Ronald O'Hara and Wally Manders with 2.3 overs left.

During the critical last few overs Flatts failed to keep the pressure on the St. David's batsmen, after Gary Brangman and captain Dwayne Leverock went out of the attack.

Brangman and Leverock totally exhausted themselves after bowling 50 overs between them in the scorching heat.

St. David's looked headed for the first win of the series when Smith and Steede put on 87 for the first wicket in 145 minutes, with Smith departing for 53 after being bowled by Leverock. He hit eight fours and two sixes.

The loss of Steede 13 runs later for 41 with five boundaries gave Flatts new hope and, combined with a change in approach by St. David's, the complexion of the match began to change, too.

Brangman, who removed his Western Stars teammate Steede in his 15th over, picked up another scalp in his 16th when Lionel Cann was trapped lbw on the fourth ball he faced.

Wickets fell regularly after that as panic started to set in within the champions' camp. Shea Pitcher, who faced 63 balls in 78 minutes for his five runs was fifth out on 116, following Sammy Robinson who made nought.

That situation brought out the best in Richardson whose mature head saw St.

David's out of danger.

cup.

Flatts did have the Man of the Match in Leverock who took three for 52 from 24 overs with eight maidens, to go with his 75 earlier in the day. Brangman also performed admirably with both the bat and the ball, claiming four for 44 from 26, and scoring 20.

Flatts, winning the toss and choosing to bat first, recovered admirably from 104-7 at lunch to add 117 for the last three wickets. Only Andrew Richardson (24) and Troy Dean (15) reached double figures before lunch as an early -- and easy -- St. David's win looked likely.

But colt Rahji Edness, batting at number nine, showed the early order batsman how to do it when he stroked a blistering 49 with four fours and four sixes before being run out in a mix up over a single with Leverock.

That stand of 66 for the eighth wicket came in only 37 minutes and brought Flatts back into the match.

Rodney Woolridge went without scoring after facing just three balls, while colt Hewvonnie Brown will be remembered for the six he hit off his first ball and then the swipes he took on the next three before skying an easy catch to Shea Pitcher at long-off.

Gary Brangman batted more sensibly in the tailend stand which brought 51 for the ninth wicket with his captain, who was last out. Leverock's 75 included six fours and one six. Herbie Bascome was the pick of the St. David's bowlers with three for 69 from 16 overs while Graham Fox had two for 30, Del Hollis two for 26 and Lionel Cann two for 52.