Lord's, St David's (St David's won toss): St George's beat St David’s by two wickets

MVP Nzari Paynter picked up two wickets and scored 33 for St George’s to help his side clinch victory over East End rivals St David’s in a rain-affected Premier Division 40-over Knockout Cup final yesterday.

Paynter’s wickets included that of Onias Bascome — the highest scorer for St David’s with 42 — while Clay Darrell recorded figures of three for 39 as Ricky Brangman’s side compiled 186 for nine in 35 overs.

Despite off spinner Justin Pitcher picking up four for 32, opening batter Paynter’s effort proved crucial in his team chasing down the revised target of 134 in 25 overs, which they achieved with 24 balls to spare.

“It was a hard-fought game and credit to our opponents St David’s for a good match,” Paynter told The Royal Gazette.

“It was a rain-affected game and I’m just happy that we were able to get a result. I’m grateful that I helped my team get across the line to win the trophy.

“With the rain coming into effect, we had to make sure that we had a high enough run-rate, just in case the rain came back.

“It was good to get a nice start. Unfortunately I couldn't really capitalise on that. But the rest of the team got us across the finish line, and that’s all that matters.

“With my bowling, I didn’t start off too well. In the second spell I picked up the crucial wicket of Onias Bascome, so I’m pleased with that. But there’s things to work on.

“It was a satisfactory season for us. We’re just going to come back next season hungry and looking to win more trophies.”

After several rain delays, the match was reduced to 35 overs a side. Tre Manders, one of the key batters for St David’s, departed for 15 when Shaki Darrell had him caught by Macai Simmons.

Dean Simons made good use of being dropped on five by contributing a painstaking 56-ball 32. When he eventually fell, he was quickly followed by captain Derrick Brangman, who was trapped in front by Clay Darrell for a three-ball duck.

Bascome took on the St George’s bowlers in his 54-run partnership with Isaiah O’Brien. He hit one four and three sixes before Paynter had him caught by Detroy Smith.

O’Brien chipped in with 34 off 21, but the dismissal of the two big hitters saw St David’s pick up 32 runs from the last eight overs.

More rain caused another interruption in play and led to the St George’s target being reworked using the average run-rate.

Paynter and Jason Anderson laid the foundation with a 51-run opening stand before they departed one after the other.

Jonté Smith took on Brangman by hammering three sixes on the trot in the left-arm spinner’s third over that went for 19 runs. Zachary Edmund also joined the party with a four and a six off O’Brien’s over as the seamer conceded 17.

Pitcher brought some hope for St David's by dismissing Smith for 26 and Simmons for a three-ball duck, with both batters caught trying to clear the boundary down the ground.

Brangman bounced back by removing Edmund, thanks to an alert piece of work by Manders on the edge of the long-off boundary — releasing the ball into the air before stepping out of bounds before claiming the catch once legally back on-field.

The St David’s captain then bowled big-hit threat Zeko Burgess for 17, playing back to one that came in with the arm.

While Pitcher picked up his fourth wicket by getting rid of Detroy Smith and Bascome rolled over his arm to take out Clay Darrell — each with soft dismissals that typified so much of the overall batting effort from both sides — Shaki Darrell calmed the nerves of the St George’s fans by knocking off the winning runs in the company of Sinclair Smith.

The St George’s captain was delighted to bag his second trophy after winning the Premier Division T20 KO Cup at the same venue in June.

“The team definitely put in an effort this season,” Smith said.

“There were doubts around our team earlier in the season after we lost a number of players. With the guys that came in and those that stayed, the development’s been good.

“We were second in 50 overs and third in T20. We also won two knockout trophies, so I think it’s been a good season for us.”

Smith, who was surprised when St David’s chose to take first strike after winning the toss, shared his thoughts on what proved to be the key factors in his team’s victory.

“Intent won it for us and our batters showed that in the first 12 overs by taking on the bowlers,” he said.

“It was a good toss to lose. We thought St David’s were going to send us in to bat and that caught us by surprise because throughout the season, they've been a bowling-first team.

“We thought especially with the rain the night before, they would have sent us in because their strength is in their bowling.”

Pitcher, who finished the match with a bruised finger on his right hand, spoke of the difficulties of trying to grip a wet ball.

“It was a little bit difficult bowling because the ground was wet and it was hard to hold on to the ball,” the St David’s vice-captain said.

“I was just trying to keep it in an area where it wasn't too full or too short, where they had to play it and it just worked out in my favour.

“When I got the wickets of Jonté and Macai, I thought if we could have kept it a little bit tight, it would have been really close.

“My team fought well. We had a good season and we were unlucky not to win the knockout.”