St George’s cricket coach Clay Smith was delighted with his new-look side’s victory over Bailey’s Bay on Sunday after a winter of upheaval.

St George’s, who lost captain Onias Bascome to St David’s among a string of off-season departures, chased down a daunting total of 162 to beat Bay by six wickets with two overs to spare in their first T20 Premier Division match of the season, and Smith admits to feeling thrilled after watching his side win.

“I was absolutely elated,” he said.

“I’ll admit I really wasn’t sure what to expect because on the eve of the match we actually lost two players for various reasons, so we were scampering around to secure 11 who were able to play on the day.

“Bailey’s Bay was always going to be tough first game up, but I take my hat off to my players. They rose to the occasion, stuck together and showed true St George’s team unity. That’s been our DNA for the past few years — supporting each other and backing each other from the first ball to the last ball.”

Jason Anderson, a Western Stars stalwart in recent seasons who returned to his childhood club after an absence of several years, and Nzari Paynter were the catalysts for victory at the top of the order.

After the early dismissal of Macai Simmons, the pair produced a crucial, 122-run partnership for the second wicket.

The coach was not surprised by their exploits after the way they had trained.

“I was extremely pleased with Jason in his first game back and putting in a performance along with Nzari Paynter, but I wasn’t surprised because in the last couple of weeks they have been putting in a lot of work,” Smith said.

“We have a bowling machine and they have both been looking really good in training. Their performance didn’t surprise, but I really was not happy to have to chase down that total in our first game.

“Our bowlers were not up to par and Bay started well, but we had a break in the tenth over when the ball got lost and I was able to go back on the field. I reiterated to them that we were just one wicket away from getting into the middle order, and with one wicket we could get two or three. I’m proud of the fightback.”

The match was also the first time Sinclair Smith had taken to the field since he was officially named club captain, and his coach is pleased at how he has assumed responsibility.

“Sinclair is a very knowledgable cricketer,” Smith said. “He’s been our vice-captain for two years under Onias Bascome, and he was always happy to take the role.

“He led the team with confidence and the team have confidence in him and his ability to lead from the front. We were very pleased with his captaincy on the day and we are looking for him to grow in that role.”

St George’s lost more than half their side during the summer, with Bascome joined out of the door by brothers Oronde and Oyinde, loan player Kevon Fubler, Q’Shai Darrell, Charles Trott and Brendon Swainson, while Indian all-rounder Abdul Salaam has left the island.

But the club has worked hard to find replacements, with Smith welcoming some former players back into the fold.

“It was always going to be tough losing so many players, including our MVP from last year who has returned to India,” Smith said.

“But we’ve managed to do some groundwork and pull in a few players. Some St George’s players have come back — Isaiah Greaves (Cleveland), Detroy Smith (back from overseas) and Jason Anderson (Western Stars).

“They already have that winning mentality, so it was a bit easier than expected. They were born and bred in St George’s, so it wasn’t too difficult gelling them into the team. The main thing coming back was to understand that we put the team first no matter what circumstances and the situation.”

Perhaps the most unfamiliar name on the St George’s scorecard on Sunday was Harshad Gadge, who made his club debut. Smith has high hopes for his success, and also has another new recruit he cannot wait to unleash.

“Gadge came down and he is an Indian off spinner,” Smith said.

“It’s funny because Sinclair Smith was the one who put me on to him. He came by a national squad training session one day and just bowled a few in the nets. My captain asked him if he had a team in Bermuda and he said no, but was keen to play. We invited him to a training session and we liked what we saw; he was keen to join the team.

“He’s a very useful player, so we have him and we also have another one who was unavailable to play on Sunday in Kevin Edmund, from St Lucia. We’re looking for good things from him and Gadge over the course of the season.”