Left-arm spinner Derrick Brangman tore through Willow Cuts with five for seven in 7.5 overs to bag MVP honours as Southampton Rangers triumphed by 202 runs in the Western Counties final round at White Hill Field on Saturday.

In a match reduced to 40 overs due to a rain delay, Brangman hastened the Cuts’ downfall as the challengers were blown away for 57 in 21.5 overs. Earlier, Dalin Richardson top scored with 69 and Oronde Bascome made 53 as Rangers posted 259 for nine.

“I think the guys applied themselves well today and put on a good score,” Brangman told The Royal Gazette.

“We got 259, so that was a good start for us. Bowling, we just attacked the stumps and we bowled them all out.

“It’s nice to have Rangers back in the Western Counties. I know they’ve been missing us for a little while, I think we’re going to keep the trophy for a couple more years.

“The wicket was a bit slow, so I told these guys I’ll just give it more flight. Certain batsmen, once they see the ball in the air, they just want to hit so I just gave them what they want.”

Cuts’ captain Ras Solomon Burrows looked vindicated when he sent Rangers in and Micah Simons had Nacori Smith leg-before for a four-ball duck in the first over.

However, a 102-run stand between Alex Dore and Bascome put Rangers back in control. When both fell in quick succession, Richardson’s aggressive innings ensured the champions still posted a competitive total.

By the time Richardson fell as one of Dominic Sabir’s two wickets in the last over, Rangers had already posted a total they were able defend with ease.

Bundled out for 45 by the same opponents last Sunday, Cuts never recovered after losing Dwight Basden for a three-ball duck to colt Quilahn Richardson.

The 17 extras given away by the Rangers bowlers were the top score for Cuts, who had wicketkeeper Shaquille Bean chip in with 14 and Burrows 12, while the rest of the batters did not get to double figures.

Dexter Basden, the Cuts’ coach who had promised an improved display from his team, felt that the better side won.

“The first hour, we had something positive going, but Rangers stuck in, got a couple of partnerships and got a good total,” Basden said.

“We dropped catches. If you start dropping catches when you’re trying to restrict a team to a low score, you make it hard for yourself.

“Our batting, nobody wanted to hang around and spend time at the crease. We still had 18.1 overs to bat which we never utilised, but the stronger team won at the end of the day.

“It was overcast conditions, so we always wanted to field regardless of the total that Rangers got last week. We just figured that we had a stronger team today, but our batting let us down.”

Dore was delighted to add another trophy to the Rangers’ cabinet in what has been a magnificent season for the high-flying team.

“Southampton Rangers is a winning club,” Dore said.

“For us to come from the First Division and now we’re winning everything in the Premier Division, it just brings us back to where we know we should be. We will try to win everything that’s remaining for this season.”

The Rangers’ captain had no issues with being asked to take first strike after losing the toss.

“We’re always happy to bat first and I think the score shows it,” he said.

“Even with the rain in the beginning, I thought the wicket played fantastic. The team was able to build off that partnership between Oronde and I, to get 259 in 40 overs, if that was 50 over, that’s over 300.

“We were missing Donte Brangman and Swayne Campbell from our bowling attack. It meant we had to use our bowlers wisely, thanks to Dion Stovell and Derrick Brangman, they call them the spin twins and I think they showed their class again.”