Wellington Oval (St David’s won toss): St David’s beat Flatts by 17 runs

Flatts came close to pulling off an upset over their Eastern Counties rivals in the opening First Division match of the T20 competition at Wellington Oval, but an unlucky run out of Cofield Robinson late in the innings proved to be the turning point.

Robinson, the last of the recognised Flatts batsmen, had just smashed OJ Pitcher for three boundaries in his previous two overs to keep his side’s hopes alive, needing 21 runs off the last three overs.

Robinson, who was counting the balls and trying to keep strike, was standing at the non-striker’s end when he suffered the most disappointing of all run outs.

Jahmi Douglas straight drove a delivery from Sa-Qui Robinson who deflected the ball with his hand onto the stumps to catch Robinson out of his crease.

Umpire Mark McCormick raised his finger to confirm the dismissal, leaving Flatts 88-9 as St David’s celebrated, knowing they had taken the key wicket.

George O’Brien made certain of the victory by bowling Douglas next over, leaving Flatts short of their target and with seven balls still remaining.

Robinson’s valuable 22 came off 23 balls and included two sixes and a four while Kijuan Franks, batting at No 5, led the scoring with 35 off 24 balls with three sixes and two fours. No other player reached double figures.

O’Brien and Derrick Brangman, who shared the new ball, took three wickets apiece in giving up just eleven runs between them. O’Brien finished with three for three from 3.5 overs and Brangman three for eight from his allotted four overs. Isaiah O’Brien, the first change, supported with two for 24.

Flatts lost their first three wickets with just four runs on the board after 3.1 overs before they recovered to 50 for five by the eleventh over.

St David’s, who won the toss and choose to bat, were 30-2 before after brothers Ricardo and Derrick Brangman went cheaply. Shea Pitcher, their Eastern Counties colt on Saturday, scored 21 as opener before OJ Pitcher added 29 at No 4 to lead the scoring, hitting four fours off 25 balls.

Franks, the sixth Flatts bowler, claimed three for 19 from his three overs as St David’s were restricted to 106 for six in their 20 overs.

St David’s

S Pitcher c Franks b Hurdle 21

†R Brangman c Douglas b Betts 8

D Brangman c Carey b Smith 7

OJ Pitcher c Carr Harvey b Franks 29

G O’Brien s Robinson b Franks 3

*J Pitcher not out 9

I O’Brien b Franks 6

D Simons not out 14

Extras (6w, 3nb) 9

Total (6 wkts, 20 overs) 106

A Paynter, S Robinson and E Ball did not bat

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-30, 3-63, 4-74, 5-77, 6-87

Bowling: P Carr Harvey 3-0-15-0; A Betts 3-0-13-1; R Smith 4-0-18-1; K Hurdle 4-0-23-1; S Gond 3-0-18-0; K Franks 3-0-19-3.

Flatts

J Johan Nel st R Brangman b D Brangman 2

R Smith c and b D Brangman 0

S Gond lbw b D Brangman 2

K Jones c R Brangman b I O’Brien 3

K Franks b G O’Brien 35

*D Carey b I O’Brien 1

K Hurdle c R Brangman b G O’Brien 8

†C Robinson run out 22

A Betts b S Robinson 0

J Douglas b G O’Brien 1

P Carr Harvey not out 1

Extras (9w, 2b, 3lb) 14

Total (18.5 overs) 89

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-29, 5-50, 6-61, 7-62, 8-72, 9-88, 10-89.

Bowling: G O’Brien 3.5-1-3-3; D Brangman 4-0-8-3; I O’Brien 4-0-24-2; J Pitcher 2-0-25-0; S Robinson 3-0-5-1; OJ Pitcher 2-0-19-0.

Umpires: M McCormack and A Topliss