St David’s, the defending One 50 Overs Premier Division champions, survived a scare against relegation-threatened Western Stars to keep their title hopes alive.

The islanders edged Stars by one run in a nail-biter at St John’s Field yesterday.

St David’s were dismissed for 107 in 32.2 overs, but still managed to win by the skin of their teeth as Stars could only reply with 106 in 36.1 overs.

The visitors elected to bat and were comfortably poised at 71 for two before they suffered a collapse in which their remaining wickets fell for the addition of only 36 runs.

Opener Ankoma Cannonier top scored with 34 from 64 balls while Chris Douglas, the captain, added 24 from 51 and Rudell Pitcher, ten from 14 balls.

Third change bowler Rohan Davis was the catalyst for St David’s demise at the crease on the way to figures of six for 36 off of 9.2 overs. Seth Campbell, Tybrae Robinson and Justin Robinson claimed one wicket each while there was one run out.

With victory for the taking, Stars got their reply off to a horrendous start after losing their first three wickets for only 11 runs.

A fourth-wicket stand of 23 between Khiry Furbert and Jekon Edness provided much needed stability. The partnership was broken when Pitcher trapped Furbert leg before to leave Stars with a lot of work still to do at 34 for four.

St David’s then tightened their grip on the match after Edness, Dante Wellman and Seth Campbell were dismissed in the space of 20 runs.

However, Stars refused to roll over with Justin Robinson and Nyon Steede adding 29 runs for the eighth wicket to inch the home side closer to their target.

But the pendulum swung back in St David’s favour after Robinson and Tybrae Robinson were removed for the addition of one run to leave the game dangling in the balance.

Last pair Jeremy Fray and Steede kept their team’s hopes of an upset alive as panic began to seep into the St David’s camp.

They added 12 runs in six overs before St David’s were spared the blushes when Fray was stumped by Ajuan Lambe off the bowling Delyone Borden, the off spinner, just two runs shy of victory.

Justin Robinson led the Stars batting with 24 from 56 balls while wicketkeeper-captain Edness added 22 from 38 and Steede an unbeaten 13 lower down the order.

Pitcher was the pick of the St David’s attack with three for 28 while George O’Brien, brought in as third change, and Borden claimed two each.

St David’s play host to St George’s at Lord’s in their final league outing on Sunday while Rangers travel to Sea Breeze Oval to meet Bailey’s Bay.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Cricket Board is still deciding on whether the recent rained-out match between St David’s and Bailey’s Bay will be rescheduled.

That match will have a bearing on the title race, as a win over Bay keeps alive the St David’s hopes of a third straight title. An available date to play the match will be difficult to find as the next two Saturdays will be used for the Eastern Counties and the final Cup Match trials.