Sea Breeze Oval (St David’s won toss): St David's beat Bailey's Bay by three wickets

St David’s held off a strong challenge by Bailey’s Bay to win by three wickets on Sunday.

The victory ensures St David’s finish the season undefeated to become the T20 Premier league champions courtesy of a stellar performance by Tre Manders, who scored a game high 55-ball 85 (five fours, seven sixes) taking his team to the brink of victory before he was run out after a mix-up with Ricardo Brangman 23 runs short of victory.

The latter then hung around to see the game through with his supporting knock of 22 runs before his players and fans broke into jubilation led by captain Derrick Brangman.

“Today was a great game”, said elated captain Brangman.

“The atmosphere was amazing. This was the best game that we had all season. We knew that Bay were going to bring it so we came prepared for the challenge. When they put up 150, I wasn’t worried because we have batsmen. Hats off to Tre as he batted well and laid the foundation for the win. Overall, we trained hard all season so this is well deserved.”

St David’s won the toss and sent the home team into bat. Openers Terryn Fray and Coolidge Durham gave Bay a good start as they put on a 51-run opening partnership, scoring 19 runs in the fourth over bowled by the promising Isaiah O’Brien before Fray was caught by SaQui Robinson on the long on boundary off the bowling of Naquan Smith for 25.

Bay welcomed the return of Bermuda international Delray Rawlins, who came in at first wicket down but did not have any impact as he needlessly ran himself out trying to take a cheeky single after contributing only one run.

Sharye Tavares joined the in-form Durham and the two would dominate the bowling to carry the score to 83 for two at the halfway stage. The two put on a 47-run third wicket partnership before Tavares got caught behind by wicketkeeper Ricardo Brangman off the bowling of Justin Pitcher going for a big hit for 19 with the score 104. Durham was dropped on 71 by Kevon Fubler in the deep with the score at 128. However, there was no damage done as he was bowled by O’Brien two balls later for a team high 73 which included five fours and six maximums.

After Durham’s departure, Bay lost wickets in quick succession and would only add 26 runs to post 156 for nine in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Derrick Brangman was the pick of St David’s bowlers with two wickets for 13 runs with Justin Pitcher claiming two wickets for 38.

Requiring 7.8 runs an over in reply, St. David’s opened the innings with Marcus Scotland and Tre Manders. The two put on a 28-run opening partnership before Scotland edged one into wicketkeeper Jarryd Richardson’s gloves off the bowling off Rodney Trott for seven.

St David’s were 59 for one after scoring 19 of the sixth and final over of the power play. They would lose their second wicket at 62 when O’Brien was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Fray off the bowling off Jahre Blakeney for 14.

Onias Bascome came in next but retired hurt with a strain in his back with the score on 80 bringing Ricardo Brangman to join Manders at the crease. The two would carry St David’s to a commanding position at the halfway mark having scored 11 runs more than their opponents at 94 for two.

They had no mercy on Rawlins as they belted 22 runs in the fourteenth over highlighted by the heavy hitting Manders with a straight drive for six which was caught by a spectator — Dante Wellman of Southampton Rangers — who took a one-handed catch on the grassy bank receiving a round of applause from the large crowd.

Shortly after, the mix-up occurred with the score on 144 leaving wicketkeeper Brangman to close out the score with one over remaining.