Defending Bermuda Smash champions Hamilton Parish Hurricanes made the perfect start in their quest for a three-peat after beating Sandys Spartans by five wickets in the second game on the opening day of the tournament yesterday.

Guyanese player Quentin Sampson, who was a member of West Indies squad at the T20 World Cup this year, lit up North Field as he smashed his way to a game-high 76 off 31 balls.

That led the Hurricanes to the brink of victory before he was caught on the boundary with his team 14 runs short of victory. His innings included nine sixes and two fours to go along with his earlier two wickets to top off a fine all-round performance.

“I took my time to settle in,” said the soft-spoken Sampson. “I wasn’t bothered by my team being in trouble as I like to bat under pressure. Once I settled, I just did what I love to do. I just plan on going out there, being positive and whatever comes, comes.”

Chasing a total of 156 for nine posted by the Spartans, Sampson came to the wicket with captain Terryn Fray’s team in a spot of bother at 21 for three but alongside American Raj Nannan, the big hitter would help stabilise the innings

By rotating the strike consistently with the occasional quick and cheeky single, the pair would put on a fourth-wicket partnership of 33 runs before Nannan tried a reverse sweep off spinner Michael Agard and was caught by Zachary MacCaskie at third man for 20 runs.

Sampson was then joined by Derrick Brangman with the score on 54 and the two would lay the foundation for the win with some aggressive stroke play.

Sampson was brutal to Isaiah O’Brien, smashing 24 runs off his second over as the two carried the score to 83 at the halfway stage. Although Sandys were 18 runs better at the same point, the Hurricanes always had a chance of chasing down the score with Sampson at the wicket.

The West Indian was given a life when O’Brien dropped him on the long on boundary in the first over after the water break when on 37. To add insult to injury, the batter would hit captain Kamau Leverock for a massive six off the last ball of the over.

Sampson brought up his fifty with a straight drive off Michael Agard, which also brought up his team’s hundred.

The pair had no mercy on Delray Rawlins, smashing 24 runs in his third over with three sixes and one four. The two put on a team-high 89-run fifth wicket partnership before the slugger went for one too many and was caught on the boundary.

Zachary Edmunds joined Brangman and finished the match with a six off Rawlins with more than four overs to spare. Brangman finished unbeaten on 23. Leverock and Agard were the pick of the Spartans bowlers claiming two wickets apiece for 32 and 33 runs respectively.

Earlier, Sandys won the toss and elected to bat. Captain Leverock led the charge with some aggressive play of his own as he clobbered Brangman for 20 runs from his first over, with three fours and a maximum.

Rawlins would join his captain as first wicket down and the two would carry the score to 69 for one in the six-over power play. Leverock brought up his half century with a six over deep mid-wicket off Kyle Hodsoll. After hitting Brangman for a four on the first ball off his second over, the bowler enticed Leverock to hit a soft catch to captain Fray at mid-off. Leverock fell for an aggressive 57, which included two sixes and nine fours with the score on 87 for two.

Brangman claimed his second wicket as he baited Rawlins (18) to dance down the wicket on a wide delivery, but he missed the ball completely and wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith easily collected the ball to dislodge the bails.

The Spartans were in a commanding position at 101 for three at the halfway mark but then had a batting collapse immediately after the water break, losing six wickets for just 55 runs.

MacCaskie flew to Jonte Smith off the bowling off Quentin Sampson for seven and only O’Brien offered any resistance. He would be caught for 25, which included two fours and one six, by Jonte Smith, who juggled before catching on the second attempt off the bowling of Australian Marcus Bean for 25 as the Spartans would post a modest 156 for nine.

Raj Nannan was the pick of the Hurricanes bowlers with three for 20. He was ably assisted by Sampson and Brangman with two wickets apiece for 33 and 34 runs respectively.