Southampton 226-4

Police 177

Police's giant-killing run in the Combined Knockout Cup was brought to an abrupt halt at Wellington Oval on Saturday when Southampton booked themselves a spot in the June 29 final against Western Stars with this comfortable 49-run victory.

Janeiro Tucker's side quickly made it clear they had no intention of suffering the same fate as that of the Prospect club's previous Premier Division casualties, Cleveland and Somerset - although they did suffer a few scares along the way.

After Southampton had won the toss and elected to bat, Police struck in only the second over when Rangers' stalwart Keith Wainwright was clean bowled by Freston Hurdle for one with just three runs on the board.

But incoming batsman Stevie Lightbourne and young Ian Armstrong, relishing in his promotion to the top of the order, soon calmed Rangers' nerves as they carried the score to 37.

Lightbourne, who has enjoyed a fine start to the season, threatened again to set the field ablaze but during a moment of indecisiveness he threw his bat at a harmless delivery wide of the off- stump from Hurdle and was snapped up, having contributed 17.

Skipper Tucker fared much worse when he was uncharacteristically bowled for a first ball duck as Police began to conjure up thoughts of yet another upset.

But the boys in blue let their chance slip as middle-order batsman Ricky Brangman was dropped on one by Rashen Perera off the bowling of Hurdle.

Brangman went on to make his opponents pay dearly, combining with Armstrong to post a match-winning 180-run partnership.

Southampton's next wicket didn't fall until the score was on 217, Brangman eventually being dismissed for 89, a total that included seven fours and three sixes.

Armstrong, meanwhile, enjoyed his maiden half century and continued to finish unbeaten on 85, having cracked 11 fours and two sixes. Wicketkeeper David Ferriera was also undefeated on six at the end of the 50 overs as Police were set a winning target of 227.

Hurdle was Police's most successful bowler with three for 25 off nine overs while Archer had one for 27.

Undaunted, Police set about their pursuit of victory with openers Terry Thomas (19) and Andrew Rawlins (46) putting on 46. But once Southampton got the breakthrough with Ryan Belboda forcing Thomas to offer a simple catch to Armstrong at square leg, it was an uphill climb for the First Division team.

Steede (14) came to the wicket and kept the runs flowing at a reasonable rate while Rawlins at the other end provided good support.

However, Tucker trapped Steede leg before and Southampton finally saw the back of Rawlins who fell just three runs short of a deserved half century when Clevie Wade dislodged his stumps.

Of the remaining Police batsmen, only Archer (33) would put up any real resistance as spinner David Saltus (four for 48) and player/coach Wade (two for 22) ripped through the lower order.

Young Sri Lankan all-rounder Ramen Wijewardena grabbed one for 15 while Tucker finished with one for 29 as Southampton eased into next month's final.