Devonshire (Devonshire won toss): Willow Cuts beat Devonshire by six wickets

Kwasi James played a captain’s innings that propelled Willow Cuts to a comfortable victory over Devonshire at Devonshire Recreation Club yesterday.

The 27-year-old all-rounder led the chase with an unbeaten 67 from 37 balls and dominated a match-winning 51-run stand with Sergio Raynor that carried the visitors safely across the line with 31 balls to spare.

“We lost early wickets so I thought I’d just come in and nudge the first couple around, get my eye and go from there,” James told The Royal Gazette.

“It was a two-paced wicket. so I just tried to take my time at first and capitalise on the bad balls on a small field. It was one of my better knocks.”

James came to the crease after openers Dwight Basden (6) and Antonio Darrell (6) were dismissed in the space of two overs.

Wicketkeeper Shaquille Bean (19) made a promising start but failed to go on as Drewonde Bascome took a sharp one-handed catch at slip to dismiss him.

James and Herbie Bascome (6) added 22 in three overs before the latter was trapped leg before by nephew Drewonde.

That was as good as it got for Devonshire as James cut loose with some powerful stroke play to see the visitors to victory without further damage.

He thumped seven fours and five sixes, including three straight off Devonshire captain Dion Ball, and reached his fifty off 33 balls.

Bevin Carr was Devonshire’s most economical bowler with one for five.

Earlier, Devonshire posted a total that ultimately proved easy pickings for Cuts after electing to bat.

Top order bat Derwin Adams led the way with 45 from 34 balls, with four fours and a six.

Chris Dailey was next high man with 31 from 25 balls with two sixes.

Devonshire were 59 for four before Adams and Dailey added a timely 27 to stop the rot and steer the innings back on track.

Dailey also added a further 26 with Koshun Simmons (10) before being run out on the final ball of the innings.

Bascome (13) was the remaining Devonshire batter in double figures.

Raynor proved the pick of the Cuts bowling with two for 30.

“It’s always nice to start off with a win; it was a great win for everybody,” James said.

Devonshire

A Cannonier b James 1

D Bascome b Bascome 13

D Adams c & b Gomes 45

T Jennings c Williams b Raynor 4

*D Ball b Raynor 3

C Dailey run out 31

K Simmons not out 10

A Butterfield, B Carr, †A Zuill, D Dechebert did not bat

Extras (b 4, lb 3, nb 1, w 6) 14

Total (6wkts, 20 overs) 121

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-17, 3-49, 4-59, 5-86, 6-121

Bowling: Bascome 4-0-23-1; James 4-0-17-1; Darrell 4-0-25-0; Raynor 4-0-30-2; Gomes 4-0-19-1

Willow Cuts

D Basden st Zull b Carr 6

A Darrell b Simmons 6

*K James not out 67

†S Bean c Bascome b Ball 19

H Bascome lbw b Bascome 6

S Raynor not out 8

C Basden, D Darrell, S Gomes, K Williams, D Basden did not bat

Extras: (w 14) 14

Total (4 wkts, 14.5 overs) 126

Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-16, 3-53, 4-75.

Bowling: Carr 2-1-5-1; Simmons 3-0-28-1; Bascome 4-0-33-1; Ball 4-0-40-1; Dailey 1.5-0-20-0

Umpires: E Carrington, P Smith