Southampton Rangers successfully defended a total of 87 to beat T20 League champions St David’s at Lord’s yesterday.

Rangers, who were put into bat by St David’s, were all out in 17.2 overs with Nacori Smith outshining some of his side’s more high-profile batters with the top score of 23.

Smith was one of seven Rangers batsman caught, with most nabbed in the deep as they went for big hits. Justin Pitcher was the pick of the St David’s bowlers taking three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs. Captain Derrick Brangman and OJ Pitcher took two wickets apiece, with Isaiah O’Brien, Maki Young and Brian Hall, who took a fantastic catch off his own bowling, claiming a wicket each.

Only three Rangers batters — Smith, Delray Rawlins and Dion Stovell — made it into double figures as St David’s were set 88 for victory.

It all seemed to be going swimmingly for St David’s in reply with Dean Simons and Justin Pitcher putting on 24 or the first wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Rawlins.

The dangerous Isaiah O’Brien was also out the same way off the bowling of Nyhrobi Carmichael for four but Ricardo Brangman, in at No 4, made a solid 21 before he was caught by Alex Dore from Stovell’s bowling.

In at No 5, Hall made eight before he fell but St David’s still looked good for the win with the score at 68 for five. However, their last five wickets fell for just 11 runs.

Carmichael was the star with the ball for Rangers, taking four wickets for three runs in just 1.4 overs as he ripped through the St David’s tail-enders to help Rangers to victory by eight runs.

Jordan DeSilva and Dion Stovell took two wickets each, with Rawlins and Allan Douglas Jr picking up one victim each.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Terryn Fray scored an unbeaten 55 as Bailey’s Bay edged past PHC to win by two wickets at Sea Breeze Oval.

It was another low-scoring match with PHC, who batted first, managing 85 for seven in their 20 overs, with Jahmari Beach top scoring on 38 not.

In reply, Fray stood firm while wickets tumbled all around him. Azende Furbert was the only Bay player to make double figures, with no other Bay batter making more than four, as they reached their target with no balls to spare.

The pitch was difficult all day at Sea Breeze Oval with players in the earlier First Division match complaining that the ball was keeping low.

At Somerset Cricket Club, St George’s chased down Somerset’s total of 135 for nine, claiming victory with 16 balls to spare.

Keegan Jones was the star of the St George’s run chase, scoring 50, from 42 balls, while a cameo of 29 not out from 16 balls helped the East End team to 136 for eight for a two-wicket win.

Aside from Jones’s knock, the game was notable for Somerset bowler Brianna Ray taking the wickets of two Cup Match players. Ray had opener Jonte Smith caught by Janeiro Tucker and clean bowled St George’s captain Sinclair Smith late in the innings.