Western Stars 297-6

Social Club 72

Western Stars comfortably retained their Central Counties crown at St. John's Field on Saturday where Jermaine Postlewaite and Justin Robinson featured in a one-sided affair that saw the home team romp to a whopping 225-run victory.

Entering this contest, Stars were heavily favoured to move into the second round and, in dark overcast conditions, the only surprise was that rain didn't spoil the day.

However, Social Club probably wished that it had poured after they had Stars reeling at 25 for three. Eventually the only thing that flowed freely were the runs off Postlewaite's bat en route to an unbeaten 102 - his maiden ton in top flight cricket.

The number six batsman - dropped on three occasions - punished Social Club's attack with seven fours and four sixes along the way.

Skipper Albert Steede - uncharacteristically batting at number seven - also came good with a solid unbeaten knock of 83, while Robinson stroked a brisk 44 in just 42 balls before he was finally bowled by Will Furbert.

Both Steede and Postlewaite sportingly aborted their innings to afford their lower order batting practice.

Steede cracked six fours and a six while Robinson found the gaps for seven fours.

Stars made three changes for this match, resting Dwayne Leverock, Arnold Manders and Saleem Mukkundem and opted to give their budding youngsters Maurice Lowe and Anthony Hayward a taste of the big time.

Jah Jah Millett, meanwhile, made his first appearance of the season.

Dean Bean (2-41) and Sanford Seepersad (2-55) emerged as Social Club's most successful bowlers, while Furbert and Levarr Talbot grabbed a wicket apiece as their hosts finished on 296 for six in 50 overs.

In reply, Social Club got off to a reasonably good start with openers Leon Dickinson and Charles Warren putting on 18 runs for the opening stand.

However, just as Bermuda CableVision had done previously in the day, Stars pulled the plug and skittled their guests out for 72 in just 23 overs.

Rambert Hill top-scored for Social Club with 17 while Furbert remained not out on nine.

Robinson capped off a fine outing by seizing four wickets for 21 runs in six overs while Lowe returned an equally impressive bowling analysis of three for 15 in five overs.

Millett grabbed two for 12 and young Hayward one for nought, bowling Keevon Gift with the last ball of his first over to send Stars emphatically into the next round.