Western Stars laid down a marker after they beat fellow league title contenders Devonshire by 19 runs in a nail-biter at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

A superb bowling effort saw the visitors defend a small total to hand their hosts a first league defeat of the season and bolster their own title hopes.

Devonshire were coasting along at 98 for four in reply to Stars 152 all out before they capitulated, losing their remaining six wickets for 35 runs in 11.1 overs.

Brian Hall, the Stars captain, and Jayden Manders, the teenage off spinner, were the bowling heroes for the visitors as they claimed three for 14 and three for 18 respectively in a match which saw the ball dominate the bat.

“We at Stars never give up until it’s over,” Hall said. “This was a game we knew we had to win and the team came out and got the job done.”

Stars struggled for runs after being sent in to bat on a grassy wicket that Devonshire’s seam bowlers exploited fully, and the visitors eventually capitulated in 36.4 overs.

The visitors were reduced to 23 for three in the seventh over with Hall among the early casualties.

However, a timely 54 run fourth-wicket stand between Temiko Wilson, the wicketkeeper-batsman, and Justin Robinson, the veteran all rounder, stitched the Central Counties champions’ innings back together.

Wilson dominated the partnership, thumping seven fours and a six in a knock of 44 from 64 balls. He fell six runs shy of a half century after feathering a catch behind to opposite number Ricardo Brangman, the Devonshire captain, off the bowling of Wilbur Burt, the former Stars player.

Robinson soldiered on in Wilson’s absence, adding a further 37 runs for the seventh-wicket with youngster Jayden Manders — the only other Stars batsman in double figures — before a late slide saw the visitors’ last four wickets tumble for 21 runs in the space of 34 deliveries.

Robinson struck three fours and two sixes in his knock of 39 before spooning a return catch to Chris Douglas, the Devonshire all rounder.

Smith was the pick of the Devonshire bowling with four for 24, while Burt took three for 16 that included the scalp of former Stars captain, Arnold Manders, for a duck.

In theory, an asking run rate of three runs per over should have been easy for Devonshire.

However, rather than play each ball on its merits Rec tried to force the issue and paid the price as Stars bowlers put the ball in the right areas, and their fielders held their catches.

Douglas was the mainstay of the Devonshire innings with a dashing 50 from 32 balls in as many minutes.

The aggressive left handed batsman let his intentions be known from the outset with his first 22 runs coming in boundaries.

Douglas tore the bowling to shreds, sweeping Rohan Davis, the Stars seam bowler, to the backward square leg boundary for four to bring up his half century off 30 balls in 25 minutes, and his team’s hundred in the seventeenth over.

Davis would have the final say, however, as he had the swashbuckling batsman caught at mid on two overs later.

Levar Talbot carried the fight further down the order, but the damage had already been done.

Talbot struck four fours in his knock of 21 from 34 balls before he was the last wicket to fall, trapped lbw by the promising Jayden Manders, who sealed Stars’ second victory over Devonshire this season.

Ajaun Lamb and Ricardo Brangman, who added 39 runs for the second wicket, were the only other Devonshire bats in double figures.

Meanwhile, in yesterday’s remaining First Division match, PHC beat Somerset Bridge by 58 runs at White Hill Field.

Tail ender Jason Green smashed an unbeaten 49 as PHC piled up 227 for nine in their allotted overs. Green received solid support from opener Jelani Albouy, who chipped in with 44, and Kevin Lambe, who stroked 42, as the visitors got useful contributions throughout the order.

Jermaine Salaam led the Bridge attack with three for 55 while Donnie Charles and Jamie Raynor took two wickets each.

In reply, Bridge were dismissed for 169 in 38.3 overs with Jason ‘Burners’ Smith scoring a team high 36 and Clarence Trott and Scott Tucker each adding 31.

Charles Trott, the PHC seam bowler, was the pick of the visitors’ bowling with three for 36, while Tarik Smith, the leg spinner, took three for 63.