Evening League side North Village lifted the Central Counties trophy for the first time in their history after dethroning champions Devonshire at Devonshire Rec on Saturday.

The challengers posted 304 all out after opting to take first strike and then dismissed their First Division opponents for 240 in 38 overs to prevail by 64 runs in an entertaining and high-scoring affair.

Village captain and guest player Terryn Fray said his team were confident and hungry for success heading into the 50 overs contest.

“It’s a little bit of history but Village knew it was coming,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“We picked a team, they wanted to win, and it was good cricket from what everyone knows to be a football powerhouse.

“I thought it was a real good game and Devonshire played really, really well.”

Fray played a captain’s innings as he stroked a polished 87 from 55 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes. He also featured in fruitful partnerships with Malachi Trott and fellow guest player Kyle Hodsoll.

He added 41 runs for the fourth wicket with Trott (25) before being forced to retire after being struck in the head by a Jahzardae Samuels delivery.

Fray returned to the crease in the 38th over and picked up where he left off with some elegant stroke play on both sides of the stumps, nudging a single off Devonshire captain Chris Daley to bring up his half century off 31 balls in 40 minutes.

He then dominated an 81-run ninth-wicket partnership with Hodsoll (20) that powered Village to a total that proved beyond Devonshire’s reach before becoming the last wicket to fall.

Wicketkeeper/batsman Nacori Smith (46) was Village’s next highest scorer and along with fellow opening batter Darwin Adams (19) added 71 for the first wicket in 9.4 overs to get the challengers off to a solid start.

Guest player Jonté Smith weighed in with an aggressive 39 from 25 balls and featured in a fruitful 51-run wicket partnership with Trott.

Guest players Makai Young (20) and Dennico Hollis (13) also kept the runs flowing with an 33-run seventh wicket partnership.

“I thought we batted well and was well paced,” Fray said.

“There were a couple of good partnerships that went on, myself and a few others, and we ended up with 304.

“The guys at the top hit over the top and as the field spread we knocked around the ones and twos and put the loose deliveries away.”

Zeko Burgess (four for 41) and Kamau Leverock (four for 44) were the pick of the Devonshire bowling.

Wicketkeeper/batter Riacrdo Brangman smashed a ruthless 62-ball century (101), which included ten sixes and four boundaries, during Devonshire’s chase.

However, his swashbuckling knock ultimately went in vain as Devonshire came up short of their target.

“Scoring 300 plus we knew we had a good chance to win with that total and we only had five bowlers, so ven I had to bowl today,” Fray said.

All-rounder Smith led Village’s charge with the ball, claiming five wickets for 61 runs.

He opened his account when Devonshire opener Drewonde Bascome (15) was given out to a contentious lbw decision.

Smith then bowled Burgess (27), who attempted to drive on the onside before having an aggressive Brangman grabbed by Fray at long off when going for another big hit to all but end Devonshire’s hopes at 236 for eight with all of their recognised batters back in the pavilion.

He then claimed Devonshire’s last two wickets in the space of four deliveries to complete an impressive five-wicket haul and clinch Village’s historic victory.

“It was tough because they had some good batsmen out there that were really trying to take their time, steady themselves and give Ricardo the platform to play the innings that he did,” Smith said.

“When you weren’t bowling to Ricardo it was really hard to penetrate and then Ricardo comes on and he’s hitting the ball all over the place.

“It was a difficult day for bowlers in general, but fortunately we were able to get the breakthrough.”

Smith received good support from Young (two for 46) and Hollis (two for 67), while Leverock (43) and Samuels (11) were the remaining Devonshire batters in double figures.