Wellington Oval (St. George’s won toss): St George’s beat Warwick by 219 runs

Zachary Edmund starred with the bat and Jonté Smith with the ball as St George’s remained unbeaten in the 50 Overs Premier Division at Wellington Oval on Sunday.

Edmund scored 120 of the 306 runs scored by St George’s after they chose to bat first before Smith took six wickets for 34 runs in his eight overs as Warwick were bowled out for just 87 runs

“I felt good batting out there today,” said Edmund, a newly recruited police officer from St Lucia.

“I am more used to the T20 format so I relied on my capabilities to carry me through.”

After losing both openers to Stephan Dill in the ten-over powerplay with only 27 runs on the board, St. George’s settled down with Edmund dominating a third-wicket partnership with Smith before the latter was caught off the bowling of Kamau Leverock for just 12 runs.

Macai Simmons then joined the St Lucian and the two batted aggressively to put on a 162-run, fourth-wicket partnership before Simmons was caught by Jalani Richardson off the bowling of Leverock for 52 and with the score at 225.

Warwick paid the price for dropping Edmund before he had reached double figures and he went on to reach three figures before he was caught and bowled by Malachi Jones for 120 with the highlight a pulled six clearing the boundary wall and road before landing in the nearby boatyard.

Leverock was Warwick’s best bowler finishing with two wickets for 36 runs.

Needing 6.12 runs per over to win, Warwick openers Zeri Tomlinson and Malachi Jones faced an uphill battle and the former was bowled by Burgess in the third over with a ball that stayed low. Burgess then had Jones caught by wicketkeeper Smith in his next over to leave Warwick dangling at 17 for two. Burgess and Smith bowled ten overs unchanged as the two had their opponents reeling at 57 for seven after the powerplay with Smith going on to claim the next five wickets.

Leverock was his first victim out to a brilliant, diving one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith. Captain Cory Burgess and youngster Callum MacFarlane attempted to stabilise the innings with some sensible batting and picking their shots carefully. The two would put on a team-high 31-run partnership but lost Burgess who was bowled by Jonte Smith when going for a big hit on 19.

Smith also claimed Ajani Lee in the same over as he failed to play at a ball which cut back and nipped his off stump. Warwick’s tail failed to wag with the score now 52 for six. Smith then trapped Marcus Johnson leg before to complete his five-for and then had Jamar Stovel caught first ball of his seventh over to claim his sixth wicket.

“I totally enjoyed my bowling today,” Smith said. “It was special for me as I have been working on my bowling. I was able to swing the ball around as it is part of my game that I have been working on, so it’s nice to see some results.”

MacFarlane, batted with confidence and maturity as the tail tumbled around him, finishing unbeaten on 21 as Warwick were skittled out for 87 in only 19.3 overs. Nzari Paynter and Isaiah Greaves claimed the last two batters.