PHC 166

Southampton 167-3

Leaders Southampton took full advantage of St.George's' misfortunes over the weekend to take major strides towards the Premier League cricket title.

Rangers made short work of visiting PHC yesterday for the second week in succession at Southampton Oval where they comfortably defeated their opponents by seven wickets to place themselves in a commanding position for a second league title in four years.

However, Rangers player/coach Clevie Wade isn't about to get too carried away as, according to the veteran, "there's still a long way to go."

"I'm very pleased with the way things are going at the moment," he said. "But it's still way too early to start celebrating. We have to remain focused and take it one game at a time."

Wade said he wasn't bothered by what other teams were doing, but instead more concerned with what was going on in his own back yard.

"We have to stay tuned in heading down the home stretch and remain positive at all times," he added. "We are not too concerned with any of the other teams - as long as we stay out in front.

"And that's our main objective - to keep on winning. If we can manage to do that, then no one will be able to catch us."

Up against cellar dwellers PHC yesterday, the home team encountered little difficulty dismantling their opponents and picking up their ninth win of the season. Veteran spinner Olin Jones proved to be the pick of the Southampton bowlers. Jones was brought into the attack in the 25th over with PHC threatening to post a challenging to score at 137 for four with player/coach Andre (Doc) Manders (27) and son Taurean (25) looking solid.

However, Jones, bowling from the northern end, finally made the big breakthrough with the second ball of his fifth over when he had the younger Manders smartly caught by Gary Crofton at gully.

The leg spinner struck again with the last ball of his seventh over to have Ellsworth Bean caught at long on by Jason Smith, making his debut for Southampton. Jones then capped off another solid bowling performance by pushing back PHC tailender Neil Anglin's off stump as the visitors slumped from 140 for five to 166 all out in 38.2 overs.

Supporting Jones were skipper Janeiro Tucker and Crofton who managed to take two for 35 and two for 18 respectively. Crofton also tossed down four maidens during a ten-over spell of medium seam bowling.

Asked to score at a comfortable 3.3 runs per over, Southampton wasted little polishing off the required runs with the big-hitting Stevie Lightbourne (55), Ricky Brangman (46 not out) and skipper Tucker (33) leading the way.

Rangers romped home to victory in 24.4 overs.