Southampton 114-5; Cleveland 113

Skipper Janeiro Tucker and seasoned campaigner Gary Crofton claimed nine wickets between them while Kwame Tucker struck a blistering half-century to inspire Southampton to this five-wicket win over visiting Cleveland at Southampton Oval yesterday.

Tucker grabbed five wickets for 13 runs off only 8.2 overs of right-arm seam bowling, including three maidens while Crofton returned equally impressive figures of four for 21 from ten overs with three maidens.

The latter laid the foundation for Southampton?s second successive win in limited overs play, accounting for the first four Cleveland wickets to fall before Tucker brought himself into the attack and effortlessly polished off the visitors? tail.

Cleveland skipper Carlton Smith led his team?s batting, picking up where he left off the previous weekend by scoring a vital 25 to help his side recover from an early order batting collapse and post a respectable total before Tucker muscled in for the kill.

Smith struck four fours and a six before he became Tucker?s second victim, trapped leg before playing across the line.

Jeff Tyrell was the next high man with 16 (two fours) while veteran Johnny Richardson stroked two fours in a useful knock of 15.

In reply to Cleveland?s paltry total, the home team cruised to victory with openers Kwame Tucker (55) and Keith Wainwright (23) featuring in an opening partnership worth 88 runs.

Tucker dominated the stand, dispatching the Cleveland attack all around the ground with brute force. Tucker smashed eight fours and a six and recorded his half-century off 61 balls before his boundary laden innings came to an abrupt halt when the returning Peter Philpott had him caught by skipper Smith.

Wainwright, meanwhile, held his end of the bargain admirably, stroking five fours while a free-flowing Tucker continued to lay into the Cleveland attack at the opposite end.

However, once the opening pair were back in the pavilion, with Southampton well on course for victory, the home team suffered a middle-order collapse, as youngsters Malachi Jones (two), Ramen Wijerwardena (six) and Rohaan Simons (eight) were all dismissed cheaply.

Still, despite Cleveland?s fightback, the writing had long been on the wall as it was left for skipper Janeiro Tucker (four not out) and Rohan Rhones (one not out) to put things back into proper perspective. Southampton surpassed the visitors? total in only 25.4 overs.

Philpott finished with two wickets for 13 runs while Charles Richardson took two for 18.