Willow Cuts 197

Southampton 127

What a difference a week makes - so Southampton Rangers discovered yesterday.

Their quest for a Premier double came to a crashing end when they were bundled out of the Knockout championship by Willow Cuts - the same team they defeated last Sunday to clinch the league title.

It was a reversal of fortune at Somerset Cricket Club - the same venue at which the two teams clashed a week ago - as Cuts were able to complete their mission on this occasion, prevailing by 70 runs to advance to this Sunday's Knockout final.

In a semi-final that swayed one way and then the next, Cuts chose to bat first and found themselves losing wickets with uneasy regularity and being seriously in danger of not reaching three figures when they were 94 for eight wickets.

However, skipper Richard Basden played a true captain's innings and, with vital assistance from Cuts' number ten and 11 batsmen Trevor Corday and Howard Darrell, added another 103 runs which were to prove invaluable

The innings folded for 197 off the final ball of their 50 overs as Basden was dismissed for 93 (six fours, five sixes).

The fact that Corday scored 26 in a 72-run stand for the ninth wicket and Darrell just one run in the last-wicket partnership of 31 underlined the magnitude of their leader's batting.

"We worked hard. We had to fight to the end. I am very pleased. The guys showed a lot of character," declared Basden after his side halted the league champions' reply at 127.

"Yes, obviously my batting in the end was crucial but Trevor Corday and Howard (Darrell) played a vital part. I just showed my worth and led by example."

None of Rangers' batsmen truly got going as Cuts bowlers followed on from their skipper's heroics.

Keith Wainwright edged Basden to his brother Dexter Basden at slip and Stevie Lightbourne's stumps were dismantled by Charles Swan to have Rangers in early trouble at 28 for two.

Corday got in on the act, comprehensively bowling opener Olin Jones for 28 (three fours) and then star batsman, Janeiro Tucker, tried pulling Swan over deep mid-wicket only to be caught by Bergon Spencer Jr running in from the boundary. The Rangers skipper was gone for 22.

Cuts - with their tails up and with Rangers on 78 for four - ate through the remaining opposition line-up, only Kwame Tucker's 37 with five fours was of any note.

Sparkling fielding - the highlight of which was a left-handed catch at mid-wicket by an airborne Cordell (Shabba) Gilbert to send Ricky Brangman on his way - served as further inspiration for Cuts who savoured their just desserts.