Wellington Oval (Devonshire Rec won toss): St George's beat Devonshire Rec by four wickets

Zeko Burgess smashed 64 not out off just 22 balls to lead St George’s to a tense four-wicket victory over Devonshire Recreation Club in the T20 Premier Division at Wellington Oval yesterday.

Devonshire Rec won the toss and elected to bat in heavy winds, and opener Ankoma Cannonier was nearly run out in the first over. However, he got his bat grounded into the crease before the throw by Shakai Darrell hit the stumps.

Darrell struck from the fifth ball of his first over with a cutter to deceive Cannonier. In the next over, Burgess and his teammates made a loud appeal for a catch behind to wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith, but umpire Oscar Andrade ignored them.

Freeman Lema cracked a lovely six over extra cover for the first boundary of the match. Clay Darrell stepped into the bowling attack and dismissed Lema with a beautifully placed delivery between middle and leg stumps. The green and gold were reeling at 37 for two at the end of their batting powerplay.

Drewonde Bascome, who confidently rotated the strike with little aggression, placed right into the arms of Jahquil Hill to become Darrell's second victim. Former St George's star Allan Douglas Jr stepped into the crease and smashed six sixes in his knock of 50 off 30 balls.

Treadwell Gibbons started off his innings in shaky fashion, and could have been out had Zeko held on with a tough catch over his shoulder at deep mid-on. He largely played the supporting act to Douglas' swashbuckling innings, before Douglas was bowled by Burgess. The pair put on a total stand of 93 runs from 64 balls for the fourth wicket, to play a large part in boosting the visitors from 43 for three to their total of 159 for four.

Eventually, Gibbons would close the innings with the highest score of 58 not out off 49 balls, including four boundaries and one six. Clay Darrell was the most successful bowler for the home side with two wickets, while Burgess and Shakai Darrell took one wicket apiece.

Jason Anderson and Zachary Edmund stepped to the crease embracing the challenge of opening a high scoring run chase.

The openers made a steady start without any real flashy shots, but that good rotation of strike ended when Zachary was caught by Treadwell Gibbons at mid-wicket off the spin of George O'Brien.

Anderson launched the first six over mid-wicket off the second over by Shaquille Pitcher. O'Brien took two wickets from his second over, Nzari Paynter and Jahquil Hill the victims. After six overs, the blue and blue were in serious trouble at 32 for four. Jonte and Detroy Smith picked up the baton knowing they needed to crack some shots and drastically increase the run rate.

After Jonte and Detroy each smashed one six, the latter was bowled by young Nyrobi Carmichael. Captain Sinclair barely got going with the bat, and was subsequently bowled for Carmichael's second scalp. All-rounder Zeko stepped up and started slowly at the crease, but three straight massive sixes off Drewonde Bascome to begin his aggressive onslaught.

Jonte closed the day as the support, after starting his innings as the aggressor in his partnership with Detroy. Zeko imparted his immense power with four more monstrous sixes, and closed out the win in style by crashing a shorter ball by Allan Douglas into Wellington Slip for six.

The win will largely be remembered by the wrath of Burgess' 64 off 22 deliveries, but Jonte deserves credit for his 45 off 32 balls. O'Brien (three wickets) and Carmichael (two) did well with the ball in defeat for Devonshire Rec, while Shaq Pitcher took one for 29 from his four overs.