Sea Breeze Oval (Bailey’s Bay won toss): Western Stars beat Bailey’s Bay by two wickets

Western Stars announced their challenge in the Premier Division 50 Overs League with a determined victory over the champions on Saturday.

Loan signing Kamau Leverock provided favourable early returns, his boundary-laden half-century offsetting an inspired Delray Rawlins effort, while spurring Stars past elite opposition.

The all-rounder offered a lead performance purposefully bold in destruction and rich in reward. Leverock wrecked Bay’s top order with the ball, before carving up their bowling attack for nine fours and four sixes in a team-high 78.

Stars captain Tre Manders gave maximum credit to his new team-mate and best friend on his match-winning performance.

“That’s my mate,” said Manders, stepping away from postgame celebrations. “We had talked previously and then he messaged me to say that he was thinking about coming to Stars and my eyes just lit up.

“From the moment he said that, I knew he would give us a big boost.

“You saw today both his professionalism and form.”

As for the win against the champions, Manders well understood its significance.

“It feels good to get over this hurdle,” he said. “We’ve struggled a lot with Bay in recent years. The past three to four years, they’ve had our number.

“Today I believe my guys deserved it. They’ve been training hard during the preseason, batting and bowling well.

“They say hard work pays off, so you can see how it paid off today.

“It’s good to get off the mark with a big win.”

The ending was not without drama, as after Leverock was dismissed leaving Stars 112 for five, wickets resumed falling with increased regularity. Veteran Jekon Edness put an end to doubtful questions, hitting a Nhyrobi Carmichael half-volley to the long-on boundary.

Earlier, after choosing to bat first, Bay were in danger of massive collapse at 41 for three when Rawlins came in to restore order with a sustained power display.

The Bermuda captain mixed patience with aggression in his 78-ball knock of 80 that contained five fours and seven sixes. Rawlins shepherded Bay beyond the 150 mark before being ninth out at 156.

Apart from Rawlins and opener Coolidge Durham, who clawed his way to 27, Bay’s vaunted batting line-up failed to produce.

Matching Leverock in the wickets claimed was off spinner Phillip Thomas with three for 50.

“Yes, it’s certainly not the result we would have wanted, but at the end of he day, it ended up being a really close game,” said Bay coach Gus Logie. “Congratulations to Stars, who at the end of the day had a bit more quality in terms of delivering in the middle.

“What we can say at the end of the day is that the guys gave it their best shot.

“We dropped a few catches and catches win matches, so we have something we can work on and come back stronger.”