Southampton Rangers successfully defended a total of 87 to beat T20 League champions St David’s at Lord’s yesterday.

Rangers, who were put into bat by St David’s, were all out in 17.2 overs with Nacori Smith outshining some of his side’s more high-profile batters with the top score of 23.

Smith was one of seven Rangers batsman caught, with most nabbed in the deep as they went for big hits. Justin Pitcher was the pick of the St David’s bowlers taking three wickets for 20 runs in his four overs. Captain Derrick Brangman and OJ Pitcher took two wickets apiece, with Isaiah O’Brien, Maki Young and Brian Hall, who took a fantastic catch off his own bowling, claiming a wicket each.

Only three Rangers batters — Smith, Delray Rawlins and Dion Stovell — made it into double figures as St David’s were set 88 for victory.

It all seemed to be going swimmingly for St David’s in reply with Dean Simons and Justin Pitcher putting on 24 or the first wicket before the latter was trapped lbw by Rawlins.

The dangerous Isaiah O’Brien was also out the same way off the bowling of Nyhrobi Carmichael for four but Ricardo Brangman, in at No 4, made a solid 21 before he was caught by Alex Dore from Stovell’s bowling.

In at No 5, Hall made eight before he fell but St David’s still looked good for the win with the score at 68 for five. However, their last five wickets fell for just 11 runs.

Carmichael was the star with the ball for Rangers, taking four wickets for three runs in just 1.4 overs as he ripped through the St David’s tail-enders to help Rangers to victory by eight runs.

Jordan DeSilva and Dion Stovell took two wickets each, with Rawlins and Allan Douglas Jr picking up one victim each.

More to follow . . .