Bailey's Bay 138

Western Stars 141-4

Despite a brief middle-order scare, Western Stars romped to an easy six-wicket victory over Bailey's Bay yesterday at Sea Breeze Oval.

Dwayne Leverock proved the scourge of the Bay batsmen, snapping up five wickets for 16 runs to trigger the home team's rout for just 138 in 41 overs. Stars cruised to 141 four four off 31 overs in reply to continue their hunt for the Premier Division title.

Bailey's Bay's fortunes took a decided turn for the worse when opener Dennis Trott retired hurt, ushering number three batsman Devrae Hollis to the crease. The latter had barely warmed his gloves before he was caught by Western Stars' captain Albert Steede off Arnold Manders without scoring.

That was 55 for one and it soon became 57 for two when Jermaine Outerbridge also returned to the pavilion for a duck - a caught-and-bowled victim of Manders.

At this point, Leverock, who has hardly played this season because he was overseas, stepped into the limelight.

He had Rodrick Masters and Irving Romaine caught behind for 30 and two respectively, to leave Bailey's Bay on 88 for four. Without another run on the board, the left-arm orthodox leg-break bowler knocked over Rodney Trott's stumps, sending back the 14-year-old for nought. Before adding two more scalps to his tally, Leverock caught Trott, who returned to bat, off Justin Robinson's bowling. Trott hit a top score of 50 with five fours and two sixes.

Bailey's Bay's slide continued apace and they eventually succumbed for 138 when Burton Outerbridge was bowled by Saleem Mukudem for 14.

"The ball was turning very sharply once you bowled the right length. It's my first five-wicket haul for the season but I am looking forward to a few more before the season finishes," said 31-year-old Leverock of his bowling heroics.

Western Stars began their victory march with a rapid opening stand of 61 between Jermaine Postelthwaite and Steede. The former was the first wicket to fall, being caught off Trott for 36 (three fours and two sixes) by Romaine who captained Bay.

The scoreline soon read 67 for three as Steede and then Gershon Gibbons went in quick succession for 23 and six respectively.

However, what hopes Bay had of an about-turn in the game were quickly crushed with a fourth-wicket partnership of 37 between Mukudem and Manders. When the latter was caught by Allan Walker off Trott for 14, Stars had their target well in sight and comfortably completed the formality.