Player of the match Delray Rawlins Rawlins picked up two wickets for 37 runs before scoring a brutal 81 off 35 balls as Sandys Spartans overcame Smith Sixers by seven wickets in a rain-affected Bermuda Smash Invitational match on Sunday.

In a match reduced to 13 overs per team because of a wet start to the morning, Rawlins, who came in at No 3 after captain Kamau Leverock departed for a two-ball duck, cleared the boundary to get the winning runs.

Spartans finished on 150 for three with their first victory in the tournament achieved with three balls to spare.

Earlier on, half-centuries from Brett Hampton (51 off 26) and Anthony Mosca (51 off 29), who were both dismissed by Rawlins, helped Sixers reach 145 for four in 13 overs after being asked to bat first.

Rawlins, whose side lost their opening match by five wickets to champions Hamilton Parish Hurricanes on Saturday, was pleased to contribute to his team’s first success of the tournament.

“It’s nice to get runs on the board and to get us the win,” Rawlins told The Royal Gazette.

“We’re just trying to make sure that all the guys are in some decent form going into the weekend. When it gets to the semi-finals, hopefully we can put in performances to get ourselves in that final and potentially lift the trophy.”

The former Bermuda captain believes that the wicket is conducive for the batters to flourish and he wanted to finish the run chase much earlier than he did.

“I personally said I wanted to get it in ten overs just to see where we were and to challenge ourselves,” he said.

“I know going into the weekend that the wickets are good and with the breeze, the scores are going to be big.

“But the Sixers guys actually bowled pretty well and made it tough at times. It just felt like it was my day. I was hitting the ball well enough and I was picking the right areas.

“I never felt under pressure. I never felt like this was going to be tricky and I always felt like I was in control.”

Spartans coach Jeff Richardson pointed at the toss as a key element in picking up their first win.

“One thing we wanted to do was to win the toss,” Richardson said.

“Obviously it was a rain-affected match, so we thought we’d be in a better position if we knew exactly what we needed to get.

“We made some mistakes in the field but 145 was a good chase and I think we went about it in a good way.”

Back to lead Sixers after serving a one-match suspension imposed by the BSI organisers from last year, Onias Bascome hit a four off the bowling of Akeem Jordan, from Barbados, before the same bowler had him caught behind.

Mosca and Hampton took 19 off Leverock's first over of the innings. Hampton then lined up spinner Michael Agard for a massive six over the pavilion on his way to 50 in 23 balls before the New Zealander was caught behind.

A spectacular catch from Leverock in the deep led to the removal of Mosca soon after the Australian-born Italian star had got to his half-century.

Hampton gave Sixers a dream start in the field by dismissing Leverock without scoring in the second over, but those gains were reversed when Malachi Jones conceded 22 runs in his first over.

Jones swapped ends and changed from bowling pace to spin, with that switch earning him the wicket of Chad Bowes.

Shaquan Belle, of Barbados, had his compatriot Zachary McCaskie taken close to the boundary by Hampton and some good bowling from Belle and Kwasi James turned the game on its head.

However, having bowled brilliantly, Belle and James surrendered that advantage when giving away extras with some untidy bowling at a crucial stage.

From needing 33 off 18, it became 16 from the last two overs for Spartans before seven runs were required in the last over, with Rawlins applying the finishing touch.

With Spartans back in action on Wednesday (4pm) when they face Pembroke Panthers, Richardson is eyeing a spot in the final.

“You can win two matches and win the tournament, to be honest,” the Spartans coach said.

“Because everyone plays in the semi-finals on Friday, all you need is a bit of luck here and there, then you’re into the final. We came up a little short last year and hopefully we will take it all away this year.”