Southampton Rangers 154

Flatts 158 for two

(match reduced to 33 overs)Player/coach Dean Minors and James Celestine featured in a whirlwind 146-run third-wicket partnership that carried Flatts to one of the biggest upsets in recent memory over defending league champions Southampton Rangers at Southampton Oval yesterday.

After Rangers quickie Traddie Simpson made early inroads by removing the Flatts opening pair of Howard Ascento (0) and Phillip Burgess (six) with only 12 runs on the board, Minors (42) and Celestine (90) methodically took the sting out of the home team’s attack and further frustrated the bowling with some enterprising strokeplay and excellent running between the stumps.

While a somewhat subdued Minors rode his luck after offering chances at first slip, third-man and extra cover, the belligerent Celestine tore the Rangers bowling to shreds and was particularly brutal on young seamer Andrew Raynor who went for a costly 30 runs in his one over.

Celestine raced to 50 off 32 deliveries and was only denied from achieving what would have been a deserving century when Flatts crossed Rangers total with 35 balls to spare to condemn the home team to their first limited overs league defeat in two seasons.

The aggressive Celestine banged eight sixes and four fours and produced some attractive shots through the covers off the front foot, while a more watchful Minors hit three fours and a towering six over the mid-wicket boundary to keep Flatts on course for victory.

After enjoying early success, Rangers bowlers struggled to find a good line and ultimately paid the price for bowling loosely at both ends and not capitalising on their opportunities in the field.

Minors’ innings was still in its infancy when he was put down by Rangers skipper Janeiro Tucker in the slips.

The former national team wicketkeeper/batsman received a further reprieve when his attempted hook fell just short of a fielder at third man and a rasping shot hitting across the line just evaded the diving Curtis Jackson in the covers.

Simpson was the only Rangers bowler able to extract anything from a benign pitch, the former Canadian cricket administrator finishing with two for 11 off five overs of pace that included one maiden.

Seamer Tucker and Quinton Sherlock both went for a costly 39 runs as Rangers desperately sought to get back on top, while the home team’s limited variety of bowling was brutally exposed when Raynor was virtually blasted out of the attack in the 23rd over of the innings.

Earlier, seamer Kijuan Franks and leg break spinner Rahji Edness did the most damage to lay the foundation for Flatts’ shock win.

Franks made the initial breakthrough when he had an indecisive Jackson (0) caught in the covers in the second over and Dion Stovell (eight) was gloved behind by Minors four overs later to force the champions on the back foot after they were sent in to bat.

Skipper Kwame Tucker (21) and Janeiro Tucker (31) breathed life back in the innings by adding 45 runs for the third wicket. Both batsmen looked set for big scores but were undone by some excellent all-round cricket from Edness.

The Flatts skipper ran his opposite number out with a direct throw at the stumps and then had Janeiro Tucker — who hit five fours off 28 balls — bowled at the other end to leave Rangers in an uncomfortable position at 76 for four.

The home then lost three additional wickets in the space of 23 runs with Edness the chief destroyer.

But Rangers’ tail wagged as Raynor (48) and Quinton Sherlock jr (17) batted sensibly and added 51 runs for the eighth wicket before Nelson Bascome jr had the former bowled as he attempted to accelerate the run rate towards the end of the innings.

Raynor faced 56 balls and hit three sixes and two fours.

Flatts opening bowler Franks took two for 23 off seven overs and Edness claimed two for 42 off six, while Bascome, Deshaun Carey, Lloyd Fray and Burgess all chipped in with one wicket apiece.

* Saturday’s opening round of the Central Counties between cup holders Devonshire and challengers Western Stars was completely washed out by heavy rain, allowing champions Devonshire to retain their crown without having to take to the field.

Devonshire will now meet Police in the second round of the competition on June 2.