Southampton Oval (Southampton Rangers won toss): Southampton Rangers beat Somerset by 42 runs

Southampton Rangers captain Dalin Richardson was proud of his team’s work ethic in an eventful 42-run victory over Somerset yesterday.

Their batting line-up again led the way, with the side batting first and almost reaching 200 for the second consecutive day.

“Everyone chipped in with good contributions and I am pleased with the team overall,” Richardson said. “But our goal is to win the title.”

Having won the toss and elected to bat, Rangers openers Onias Bascome and Delray Rawlins got off to a steady start, with Bascome cracking the first few boundaries.

Somerset youngster Isaiah Richardson got the breakthrough in the last ball of his second over, the fourth of the innings. He bowled Onias Bascome with the ball hitting the leg stump immediately after the St George’s Cup Match regular cracked him for six.

Rawlins and new bat Alex Dore took Somerset captain Dominic Sabir to the cleaners with 15 runs from his first over, then 16 off his second. Rangers were at 47 for one after the batting powerplay before Rawlins and Dore reached the 50 partnership for the second wicket off just 24 balls.

Antonio Darrell took two wickets in his first over to swing the momentum back in Somerset’s favour, first bowling Rawlins out for 26. Two balls later, Dore was caught by Jan-Johan Nel just as he was finding a groove.

Callum McIntosh continued the trend of spin as Rangers reached the halfway point of their innings at 84 for three. Janeiro Tucker came back for his third over from the northern end and Rangers captain Richardson was caught by Nel. In his final over, Tucker got the dangerous Dion Stovell to pick out Sabir at mid-wicket for 39.

Somerset captain Dominic Sabir came back into the fold for his final over and took two wickets. Deunte Darrell was caught by Amari Ebbin at mid-wicket, and then incoming bat Dante Wellman played right to Isaiah Richardson.

Allan Douglas Jr then powered 27 off just nine balls before Richardson made his mark with two of his three wickets coming in the final over. First he bowled Douglas between middle and off stump, then Nyhrobi Carmichael was caught by Ebbin off the final ball as the home side posted 191 for nine.

Somerset openers Nel and Sabir led the challenging task of making 9.5 runs per over for victory and they never really threatened to penetrate a very strong Rangers team. Rawlins and opening bowler Donte Brangman each had a ten-run over in the powerplay. Somerset failed to capitalise on those few moments of hope, ending the first six overs on 42 without loss.

The match remained in the balance due to Sabir and Nel staying strong at the crease, and the former reached his 50 off 30 balls.

Allan Douglas got the breakthrough when he trapped Nel leg before to stop the opening partnership at 89. Rawlins then dismissed Sabir and trapped Kwasi James lbw in his third over.

When Janeiro Tucker was taken at long off from a running catch by Stovell, the result was only going one way. Amari Ebbin tried his hardest with some lovely strokes in a cameo of 12 off 15 balls, but Rawlins took a good catch to get him off the bowling of Douglas.

The final few overs were almost a formality, although final batsmen Jade Morrissey and Antonio Darrell put on 28 runs from 27 balls to ensure the defeat was respectable.

Douglas was named man of the match for his two scalps with the ball and a quick 27 at the bottom of the batting order.