Cofield Robinson, the Flatts Victoria captain, hailed the club’s young talent after their ten-wicket victory over St George’s in the Twenty20 Premier Division at Sea Breeze Oval yesterday.

Having won the toss, Flatts managed to restrict St George’s to 91 for five from their allotted overs, with youngsters Shane Robinson and Logan Jones taking two wickets each.

In reply, newly-promoted Flatts found themselves in a steady rhythm with openers Dajon Carey and Kijuan Franks taking them to 24-0 after three overs, before the heavens opened and rain stopped play for a prolonged period.

On their return to the crease, Flatts’ overs had been reduced to stand at a further 32 runs required from nine overs, a task the openers made light work of, reaching 59 without loss after 8.1 overs to secure a first win of the season, over both 50 and 20-over formats.

“The first win has been a long time coming, but it feels great to finally get it,” said Robinson, whose side suffered defeat to Cleveland County in their opening Twenty20 Premier Division match on Saturday.

“We have some young guys coming through and as I’ve always said, if the senior guys aren’t producing, the young guys will take their place.

“They’re more than holding their own right now and I’m really proud. They’re all pushing for places and nobody’s spot in this team is guaranteed. The reduced target helped us but we definitely made the most of it.

“Hopefully, we can keep this momentum going now. The aim for us is to not get relegated and take the game to the big boys when we can.”

Having been put into bat openers, Dexter Smith and Detroy Smith started steadily, reaching 18 before the former was forced off injured.

Mishael Paynter joined Detroy Smith at the crease taking the score to 37 before the latter was caught by Reggie Baker off the bowling of Shane Robinson after 8.4 overs having scored 14 runs.

Paynter and captain Onias Bascome tried to reignite the innings. However, Paynter only added 16 runs before he fell just two overs later, caught by Nelson Bascome as Shane Robinson claimed his second wicket leaving the score at 46 for two.

Having returned to the crease and taking the score to 54 after 12.3 overs, Dexter Smith (8) was next to fall, as Jones claimed his first wicket, looping a lofted shot into the waiting hands of Nelson Bascome.

Isaiah Wales joined his captain at the crease, but the partnership did not last long as a mix-up led to Onias Bascome being run out for 11 by Cofield Robinson to leave St George’s struggling on 61 for four after 13.6 overs.

Ben Phipps added a further 11 runs before he fell victim to Jones, caught brilliant by Shane Robinson, to leave his side on 74 for five with a little over three overs remaining.

Wales and Winston Simmons both scored 11, as St George’s finished on 91 for five.

Having started quickly in reply, Carey and Franks looked comfortable at the crease before a heavy downpour halted their progress. With time running out to get the match finished, the skies cleared enough for Flatts to try and reach a new target of 56 from an extra nine overs.

It was to prove no issue for the pair as Franks struck the decisive four in the eighth over of their total of 12, to take his team to 59 without loss and a welcome win. Franks finished on 28, with Carey on 18.

St George’s captain Onias Bascome was left to bemoan the rain delay and reduced target, as his team suffered a second straight T20 defeat, having gone down to a six-wicket loss to Bailey’s Bay on Saturday.

“The rain delay absolutely killed us today,” Bascome said. “Once we lost the toss and were put into bat it was always going to be an uphill struggle with the rain coming and going.

“Then add to that their total getting cut down to an extra 32 needed from nine overs, that’s just over three runs an over which isn’t a lot, it was never in our favour. We should have batted better but them chasing a reduced target always made it harder for us. We’ve got to come back and work harder on our weaknesses. Hopefully we can get some players back soon.”