St David’s started their One Premier Division title defence with a comfortable win over a Cleveland County side fielding three late transfers from Western Stars.

Treadwell Gibbons Jr, Temiko Wilson and Makai Young all turned out after moving from Stars this week, but it was OJ Pitcher, the St David’s captain, who was the top performer with the bat, scoring 92 in their score of 271 for eight.

The challenge was always going to be a steep one for Cleveland who fell behind the run rate at 35 for three after 12 overs. That became 59 for five after 20 overs and then 87 for eight halfway through their 50 overs.

They crumbled to 103 all out in just 30.2 overs with Gibbons Jr top scorer with 26 after coming to the crease with just six runs on the board. Opener Adrian Burrows was filling in as captain in place of Dennis Musson who was unavailable.

“Once we won the toss we were going to bat and as the game went on the wicket became harder and harder to bat on,” said Pitcher, who shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 154 with Dion Stovell (64).

“It started hopping in the middle of our innings and a couple of balls stayed low.

“Once we got 271 we knew that was out of reach for them, especially with the quality of spin that we have. Coming from T20 to 50 overs was a big adjustment, but I thought we did well in that aspect.”

The stand with Stovell was broken when he was caught by Damali Bell for one of Jelani Richardson’s four wickets.

The seam bowler also removed Allan Douglas Jr second ball when the former Cleveland player edged onto his stumps.

Richardson then had Pitcher caught by wicketkeeper Wilson after he tried to turn a short delivery down the leg side and got a top edge.

“As a batsman it only takes one ball to get you out and it doesn’t have to be a good ball,” said Pitcher, who was out first ball in the T20 final against Bailey’s Bay last weekend.

“I knew straight away, top edge, straight up in the air, the wicketkeeper wasn’t going to miss that. Dion and I put on an excellent partnership and we ran well early with a lot of singles that got us in the groove.

“We both read the game and it does make it easier.”

Delyone Borden scored 38 at the top of the innings but after Ankoma Cannonier and Chae Foggo went cheaply and then Borden departed, Pitcher and Stovell saw off any further Cleveland threat.

Richardson was Cleveland’s best bowler, taking four for 57.

Cleveland slumped to 56 for five and reached 100 after a late flurry from Makai Young who scored 16 not out at No 9.

Douglas Jr claimed four for 21 off 5.2 overs, while Cejay Outerbridge took three for 24 for St David’s.