Sea Breeze Oval (St David’s won toss): Bailey’s Bay (2pts) beat St David’s by nine runs

Stephen Outerbridge used his experience to lead Bailey’s Bay to a match-winning total of 105, and then bowled the crucial last over as St David’s finished ten runs short of victory before a big crowd at Sea Breeze Oval.

Outerbridge, the former Bay captain, led from the front with his valuable knock of 52 after coming to the crease in the fourth over with his team already in early trouble at 16 for three. When Outerbridge was eventually eighth out in the final over, Bay had recovered sufficiently to give their bowlers something to bowl at.

Outerbridge hit five fours and a six in his innings as wicket continued to fall around him, 54 for six by the twelfth over before he and Denico Hollis, who made 13, put on 34 for the seventh wicket.

No other Bay batsman reached double figures as new-ball pair Ceejay Outerbridge and Justin Pitcher shared five wickets. Outerbridge, the left-arm seam bowler, took two for eleven from four overs, and Pitcher three for 21 off four.

Kevin Hurdle supported with two for 15 late in the innings as Bay, the defending Twenty20 champions, were restricted to 105 for nine, though it proved enough as St David’s could only manage 96 for eight in reply. Needing thirteen for victory in the last over, Outerbridge completed the victory after giving up just four runs and taking the wicket of Ajuan Lamb off his fifth delivery.

And while the left-hander was Bay’s key player, Hollis helped turn the match with a brilliant piece of fielding to run out OJ Pitcher, the St David’s captain, when he looked set to lead them to victory.

Hollis picked up the ball inside the third man boundary and spun and threw in one motion, hitting the stumps as Pitcher was short of the crease trying for a second run.

Pitcher was high man for St David’s with 32 before he was out on 69 for four in the fifteenth over. Only one other batsman, Hurdle, who opened and made 11, reached double figures for St David’s who were restricted to just ten runs in the first five overs.

They then reached 40 after ten after Burton Outerbridge went for eleven in his first over before bowling Hurdle in his next over.

At 15 overs the two teams had posted the same score, 72, which left St David’s needing 35 more for victory off the last five.

Rodney Trott, the Bay captain, Derrick Brangman, Malachi Jones and Outerbridge all bowled well for Bay in the final overs as they hung on for victory to reach the semi-finals.

“It was a good team day, we do have a lot of players but we also do have a fighting spirit,” Outerbridge said. “I’m a situation batsman so that when the team’s back is against the wall I like to be at the wicket to control the game from that standpoint.

“They moved me down the order for this game and I felt like I was at home so it was about delivering for the team. I wanted to bat until the last over which I did, so I’m happy with the effort.”

Outerbridge praised Hollis for his game changing moment of brilliance.

“It changed the whole game because OJ was just getting on top of us and he is an important player for St David’s,” he said.

“It he had stayed to the end I don’t see why they couldn’t have crossed the line. It was meant for us and we took the opportunity, I’m happy for the team.

“People enjoy coming to watch cricket at Bay and we have to try to entertain them. You don’t have that many fields that get this many people.”

Burton Outerbridge, Nyrobi Carmichael and Rodney Trott all claimed two wickets for Bay after the good opening spell by Brangman and Jones. Brangman gave up just nine runs in his four overs and Jones 12 from four.