St. David's 222

Cleveland 81

St. David's Cricket Club are on a roll and it remains to be seen if anybody can halt their quest for the Premier Division title.

At St. John's field yesterday, Cleveland, one of the pre-season favourites, were no match for Clay Smith and his squad, Cleveland decisively beaten by 141 runs - a result which should see the east enders improve on their fourth place position and go ahead of Cleveland who were third going into the weekend.

Medium-pace opening bowler Mackie Crane spearheaded St. David's with his finest spell of the season, taking four wickets for just 14 runs off six overs with one being a maiden.

But as he does so often, Glenn Blakeney came away with the honours - this time with the ball, his tidy spinners claiming two wickets during one over which also was a maiden. Delyone Borden was also among the wickets, claiming two for 28 off four overs.

With this trio in good form, Cleveland didn't stand a ghost of a chance of reaching their winning target of 223.

They lost opener Curtis Jackson (6) with just eight runs scored and once number three bat Aaron Adams (2) became the second Crane victim, wickets tumbled at a rapid rate.

Within a short span Cleveland were reeling at five for 27 and there was no way they were able to defy the Islanders' inspired attack, the inevitable defeat finally coming after 23 overs.

Andre Hendrickson, coming in at number four, was their leading bat with 27 and the only other person in double figures was number eight bat Jason Simmons with 16 - the paltry 81 being their lowest total of the season.

Earlier St. David's reached their fine total thanks to some solid knocks by eight players who reached double figures.

Openers Blakeney and Borden gave them a good start with a stand of 47, Blakeney scoring 36 and Borden 15.

There may have been brief concern when both were out and the score on 57, but O.J.Pitcher struck 42 and Sammy Robinson 22, joining in a third-wicket stand that put on 51.

They were assured of reaching a high score with good knocks to follow from player-coach Clay Smith who struck 21, Chris Foggo 17, Justin Pitcher 15 and Arthur Pitcher Jr. with 24.

Veteran spinner Johnny Richardson led Cleveland bowlers with four wickets for 43 runs off nine overs while Peter Philpott had two for 19 off 5.5 overs with a maiden and Del Hollis two for 26 off 10 overs.