Even a weakened St David’s side proved too much for Flatts Victoria after posting 154 for eight to win by 43 runs in their final T20 match yesterday.

The 2018 champions were missing four experienced players, captain Justin Pitcher, Lionel Cann, Allan Douglas and OJ Pitcher, but stand-in captain Macai Simmons stepped up to lead the batting with 45 from 25 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.

Simmons shared in a third-wicket stand of 57 with Brian Hall (33) after Flatts struck twice in the second over with just three runs on the board.

In his first over, Regino Smith removed openers Ajuan Lamb and Ankoma Cannonier with his first and fifth balls before Simmons and Hall led the recovery.

After Simmons was dismissed in the eighth over to make it 60 for three, Flatts picked up two more wickets to have St David’s wobbling at 69 for five.

Hall lost three partners in the process before he and Cejay Outerbridge added 30 for the sixth wicket when Hall departed, his run-a-ball 33 including two fours and two sixes.

Outerbridge and wicketkeeper Iyuan Smith put on 57 for the eighth wicket, with Smith run out for 24 on the last ball of the innings while Outerbridge finished on 21 not out.

Flatts, missing Kyjuan Franks and Nelson Bascome, were led in the bowling by Koda Bascome, who claimed four for 27, while Regino Smith finished with two for 30. Smith then led the batting with 33 from 26 balls, hitting three sixes and a four as he tried to keep Flatts in the run chase after captain Cofield Robinson (28) and Barry DeCouto (20) had put on 55 for the first wicket. However, the required run rate climbed up to more than ten runs an over in the final nine overs.

Flatts finished on 111 for four from their 20 overs, the game already over when Dorneille Farrel was run out by youngster Aaron Paynter’s direct hit at the bowler’s end on the last ball of the match. With more than 50 runs needed off the final three overs, St David’s had the luxury of bowling Paynter and Oni Smith, who gave up just eight runs in his two overs.

“It was good today because our youngsters got the opportunity to play with the senior team,” said Simmons, who was captaining the team for the first time.

“They have a lot of heart and that’s why the whole team backed them. They got a chance in the last couple of overs to build their confidence up.

“I felt 154 was a good enough total; we had some key players missing but that didn’t matter. Eastern Counties [next weekend] is going to be an uphill battle but we’re ready for the task.”

n Bailey’s Bay, who play St David’s in the Eastern Counties first round on Saturday, had a practice match against Cleveland County after no umpires were assigned and no scorers present for their match at Sea Breeze Oval.

Bay finished second to Rangers in the T20 league.