Nacori Smith century guides Southampton Rangers to big win
Nacori Smith thumped the first century of the First Division 50 Overs season as Southampton Rangers thrashed Western Stars by 225 runs at Southampton Oval on Sunday.
Rangers piled up a massive 309 for seven after electing to bat, with opener Smith leading the run feast with 109 from 119 balls, while Dion Stovell chipped in with 86 from 109 balls and Jordan DeSilva 55, from 44 balls, to keep the scorers busy.
Stars did their cause in the field no favours having leaked 41 extras, which included 26 wides and ten no balls.
Faced with the daunting task of chasing down their opponent’s huge total, Stars came up well short as they were skittled out for 84 in 20.2 overs.
Donté Brangman (two for 22), Swayne Campbell (two for five), Makai Jacobs (two for 12) and Stovell (two for nine) picked up two wickets each to complete Rangers’s dominant display and extend their unbeaten start to the 50 overs campaign.
Stars have yet to record a win after also losing their 50 overs opener against PHC at PHC Field by two runs.
Also preserving their unblemished start to the competition was PHC, who came away with a seven-wicket win over hosts Devonshire at Devonshire Rec.
New ball pair Dionte Dowling (five for 23) and Charles Trott (two for 19) laid the foundation for PHC’s convincing win by bagging seven wickets between them as Devonshire were dismissed for 78 in 18.1 overs after electing to take first strike.
Devonshire’s paltry total was helped by the 23 extras PHC conceded, which included 20 wides and two no balls as their bowlers also struggled with consistency.
PHC replied with 82 for three in 14.4 overs with Davin Dill leading the chase with an unbeaten 33, while Trott weighed in with 20 and Koshun Durrant 14.
The remaining First Division 50 Overs contest between Western Counties rivals Somerset Bridge and Willow Cuts at White Hill Field was not played.
It is understood the contest did not go ahead as planned due to an unprepared pitch and it now remains to be seen what course of action Bermuda Cricket Board take over the matter.