Southampton Oval (Warwick won toss): Warwick beat Cleveland by five wickets

Staphen Dill and Luke Horan ensured Warwick Workmen’s completed a fantastic weekend, following Western Counties Cup success by remaining in the 50 Overs Premier Division with victory over Cleveland County yesterday.

Dill smashed six sixes and Horan four in a tense run chase and was happy to have helped his team to a successful couple of days.

“I am just happy to contribute,” he said. “I don't take things personally and the victory is more important.”

“It has been a successful weekend and to clinch the Western Counties on Saturday and then win again today is huge for the club. Today's result ensures that we remain in the Premier Division next season, which is exciting.”

After losing the toss Cleveland got off to a slow start with the bat, making just three runs from the first three overs on a wicket that was playing low and fast initially.

Dill then faltered in his line to concede four wides in his next over, although Cleveland did not find a boundary until Kristian Singh flicked the last ball of Jelani Richardson's third over to the mid-wicket fence to truly get Cleveland's innings into gear.

It was no surprise that Somerset Cup Match regular Kamau Leverock found the breakthrough with a tricky drifter that Singh missed before the ball crashed into leg stump. Fellow opener Q’Shai Darrell was also bowled by Leverock four overs later, and Cleveland were on the back foot at 25 for two at the conclusion of the batting powerplay.

Wicketkeeper Steven Bremar Jr picked up the run-rate with three successive fours in Leverock's fourth over, but his partner Derwin Adams was bowled by Dill in his first maiden over of the game. Bremar also hit the first six of the game off Leverock in his fifth over, with Cleveland at 51 for three after 14 overs.

Cleveland were awarded five penalty runs for illegal fielding when Luke Horan collected the ball with his hat in his third over. Soon after that, Bremar survived when mid-wicket fielder Shonari Boyles-Simons mistimed his jump and the ball raced to the boundary for four.

Macai Young played a straight drive right to young Jamie MacFarlane at the long-on boundary for 21, as his partnership with Bremar for the fourth wicket ended one run short of 50.

Captain Mackih McGowan was quickly out leg before for five as Boyles-Simons claimed two wickets in as many overs. Bremar continued to stay patient and completed his individual fifty off 63 balls with a massive six to the long-on boundary off Boyles-Simons.

Bremar had a short cameo in the Western Counties final as a guest player for Warwick's opponents Somerset Bridge the previous day, and lost a bit of running power near the end of the innings.

Regardless, he battled on despite his partners failing to support him adequately. No one else, after Young, could make double figures, but the power of a determined Bremar led Cleveland to 179 all out. The Cup Match wicketkeeper was bowled by Leverock after a magnificent knock of 92 off 92 balls, including eight fours and six sixes.

Leverock and Boyles-Simons took three wickets each, but the former was most economical. Warwick keeper Ajani Lee also made two excellent reflex stumpings in the first innings.

Cleveland leader McGowan struggled to bowl straight early on during Warwick’s reply, bowling three wides in the opening over.

Young came in as the first change and fooled Callum Macfarlane with a turning ball that crept under the bat immediately after he had powered a four to mid-wicket. Young and Q'Shai Darrell went on a mission to restrict and Darrell made an excellent throw from short mid-on to run out Luke Fulton for three.

McGowan remained expensive and gave up 14 off his next over, with Dill facing all eight balls. MacFarlane’s younger brother Jamie was bowled by Young without scoring and the game looked up in the air as Warwick were 47 for three at the end of their batting powerplay.

But Dill and Horan manufactured a very composed partnership of 77 runs off 87 balls to stabilise the innings. However, that did not happen without some luck as Dill was almost run out by Damani Rabain at mid-wicket on 43.

Dill crashed a maximum into cow corner to reach his 50 off 47 balls, before Bremar kept his concentration to catch a mistimed high shot off the bowling of Keith Whorms, who dismissed Leverock for a golden duck on the next ball of his first over.

Horan reached 50 with a delicate single to short mid-off, and completed the win with a lovely pulled stroke through the mid-wicket gap for four.