Lord’s, St David’s (Bailey’s Bay won toss): St David’s beat Bailey’s Bay by one wicket

Derrick Brangman fell to his knees after producing a captain’s innings to ensure St David's got over the line against fierce rivals Bailey’s Bay in a tense, low-scoring 50 Overs Premier Division battle yesterday.

Brangman came to the wicket with St David’s 55 for six and seemingly heading for defeat as they chased what had looked a poor total of 129 posted by Bay, who were bowled out in 35.4 overs.

But, helped primarily by Justin Pitcher in an eighth-wicket partnership of 46, Brangman steered his side to victory, finishing on 38 not out with his side having just one wicket to spare at the death.

The day started well for Bay after they won the toss and opted to bat, with openers Sharye Tavares and Coolidge Durham putting on 63 for the first wicket.

That did not come without a couple of scares after Tavares was dropped in the first over by Onias Bascome at first slip and St David’s producing a loud appeal for leg before against Durham only to see umpire Anderson Cumberbatch unmoved.

Durham crashed the first six of the day with a powerful straight drive over long-off as he made 16 runs from Isaiah O’Brien’s second over, and the veteran made the majority of the early running as he and Tavares reached their fifty partnership at the end of the first powerplay.

During that period, St David’s all-rounder Dean Simons was replaced by reserve Sa-Qui Robinson as a result of a minor knee injury, but he would come back into the game to open the run chase.

Tavares was granted another reprieve as a result of a lapse in communication between wicketkeeper Ricardo Brangman and Marcus Scotland, but was finally out when he pulled to Scotland inside the square-leg boundary.

Bay captain Terryn Fray came to the crease with his team in good position but quickly lost his partner when Durham tried a pull shot, only for Scotland to make up the ground and take his second catch of the innings, this one diving forward. Durham made it to 50 before he was caught and his departure brought about something of a collapse.

Justin Pitcher trapped Fray leg-before on the second ball of his third over before Delray Rawlins was sent back to the pavilion by another spectacular catch, this time by OJ Pitcher.

Jarryd Richardson was caught by Pitcher off his own bowling and Azende Furbert was run out by a direct throw from Aaron Paynter running around from mid-wicket, leaving Bay at 90 for six after 25 overs.

Jordan Burgess cracked three huge sixes in a cameo of 19 off 12 balls before he was bowled by Derrick Brangman. Rodney Trott, Michael Agard, and Kyle Hodsoll failed to make an impact as Bay were all out for 129 in 35.4 overs.

Justin Pitcher was the pick of the St David's bowlers, taking four for 30 from his ten overs. Captain Derrick Brangman and Kevon Fubler took two wickets each, while OJ Pitcher took the final scalp of Hodsoll.

Bay’s target looked easily reachable but the loss of three early wickets for just 13 runs left St David’s struggling.

Opening batter Scotland, who was an early contender for man of the match with his three catches, was out early when Michael Agard clipped his off stump with the fifth ball of the innings. Simons and Tre Manders quickly followed Scotland and when Onias Bascome played tamely straight to bowler Kyle Hodsoll just before tea, the home side were 22 for four.

OJ Pitcher, who played mostly defensively and took 44 balls to score his ten runs, attempted to give his side a foothold in the game and was helped by O'Brien and Ricardo Brangman, who both made it into double figures.

A 45-run partnership between Pitcher and Derrick Brangman for the eighth wicket put the result back in the balance, with the captain hitting the winning runs in a tense affair.