Kwame Tucker struck an unbeaten half-century and bowlers Kevin Tucker and Vernon Eve claimed six wickets between them to guide Southampton Rangers to a seven-wicket win over Somerset Cricket Club in the Premier Division at Southampton Oval yesterday.

The visiting side found runs hard to come by after electing to bat with teenager Alje Richardson and opener William White the only Somerset batsmen putting up any real resistance.

Richardson has been in fine nick lately and that trend continued yesterday as the son of Somerset coach Jeff Richardson unfurled another brilliant innings far beyond his youthful age.

Batting at No 3, the teenager thumped 73 from 90 deliveries, piercing the gaps for 11 boundaries and a six.

Richardson and White produced Somerset’s highest stand of 77 before the visiting side completely lost their way at the crease. Somerset were dismissed in the 42nd over for a total that was always going to be difficult to defend against a powerful Rangers batting order inside of the short boundaries at Southampton Oval.

Opener White was the next top scorer with 30 while there were 24 extras.

Eve and Tucker claimed nine wickets between the previous day in Rangers’ successful Western Counties first-round defence against Willow Cuts and were also a thorn in Somerset’s side.

Eve, a left-arm slow bowler, claimed three for 33 and opening bowler Tucker three for 34 to spearhead the Rangers attack.

The home side raced to their target in a hurry, achieving victory with 29 overs to spare.

Vice-captain Tucker led the run chase with an unbeaten 70 while Ian Armstrong and Dean Stephens added 31 and 25 as the home side cruised to victory with minimum fuss.

Somerset did their slim victory hopes no favour by leaking 24 extras in the field.

Justin Corday accounted for two of the three Rangers wickets to fall to finish with figures of two for 18.