St. George's 113

Southampton Rangers 89

Brother-in-laws Gregg Foggo and Herbie Bascome combined to knock the wind out of league leaders Southampton's sails at Southampton Oval yesterday as St.George's threw the title trace wide open.

Given the task of defending what at first seemed a woefully inadequate total of 113, the dynamic duo produced an electrifying display of seam bowling on a day which saw the ball dominate the bat and St.George's re-affirm themselves as the masters of protecting low totals.

Foggo snared five wickets for 39 runs during a devastating ten-over spell which included one maiden while Bascome finished with four wickets also for 39 runs and a maiden during an equally impressive show that silenced the big bats of Southampton.

Rangers were skittled out for just 89 runs in 21 overs.

Southampton began their innings 30 minutes before the tea interval and by the time umpire Randy Butler called for the break, the home team were already in deep trouble at 14 for three with the reliable Keith Wainwright (0), Kwame Tucker (four) and Olin Jones (seven) all falling victims to Foggo and Bascome who both generated considerable movement off the pitch.

Stevie Lightbourne (0) would be the next wicket to fall shortly after the restart without any addition to the score when Foggo shattered his stumps to leave Southampton in serious trouble at 14 for four. And before the dust had settled, Ricky Brangman was making his way back to the pavilion after Foggo trapped the veteran player leg before for wicket for two to leave the home team staring straight down the barrel of a second league defeat at the hands of the visitors.

However, Southampton received a ray of hope in the form of number five batsman Kenny Phillips.

He managed to keep his end of the bargain, but the batting of his team-mates at the other end left much to be desired.

The towering batsman and former St.George's player smashed a brisk 54 off only 43 balls to keep Southampton's fading hopes alive.

Phillips featured in a 19 run eighth-wicket stand with Rohann Simons (five) and a 23 run ninth-wicket stand with teenager Dwia Blyden (nine). But not even that brave effort could hold the St.George's attack at bay as Wilburt Burt finally grabbed the prized wicket of Phillips when he had him caught by teenager Oronde Bascome to seal a memorable win and make quick amends for last weekend's Belco Cup final loss against the same opponents.

St.George's swept the season league series with Southampton for the second year in succession.

Burt finished with one wicket for ten runs off one over as the east enders only required three bowlers to get the job done. They were also tidy in the field in giving up just seven extras.

Earlier, St.George's themselves struggled for runs on a slightly damp pitch.

Troy Hall top scored with 22 from 51 balls in 85 minutes. Hall managed two four and a six while Herbie Bascome chipped in with 20 from 24 balls in 24 minutes which also contained two fours and a six.

Travis Smith, promoted up the order, was the only other St.George's batsman to reach double figures. Smith weighed in with ten runs from 48 balls while Southampton gave up a costly 30 runs in extras. Wainwright was the pick of the home sides' bowling, grabbing two wickets for five runs off three overs including a maiden, while Phillips took two for 12 and the returning Blyden two for 24 during a tidy ten over spell, three of which were maidens.

Wade, meanwhile, finished with one for 15 while Gary Williams also claimed one for 15 from seven overs including three maidens.

Willow Cuts 293,

PHC 176

Skipper Richard Basden led his team to their first win of the season as Willow Cuts handed fellow strugglers PHC a whopping 117-run loss at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Basden, a firm candidate to reclaim his Cup Match place in Somerset's team later next month, couldn't have picked a better venue to serve notice than on Somerset's home turf.

The gifted all-rounder stroked an unbeaten 71 and then returned to grab three wickets for 23 runs as Cuts finally celebrated their long-awaited first Premier Division win since rejoining the big boys at the beginning of the season. Basden hit five fours and two sixes during his solid innings.

Also coming good with the willow was cousin Dwight Basden who top scored with a polished 75 which contained nine fours and a six while Reggie Tucker stroked 59, decorated with eight fours and two sixes.

Spinner Ellsworth Bean proved to be PHC's most successful bowler in grabbing four wickets at a cost of 59 runs while veteran player/coach Andre (Doc) Manders had two for 54. Manders' son Taurean and skipper Cal Waldron, meanwhile, each had a wicket apiece as Cuts posted a challenging 293 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.

In reply, skipper Waldron and opening batsman Kevin Dill both cracked 39 while others managing to resist Cuts' onslaught were Andre Manders (21), Taurean Manders who scored 22 and Gerald Simons who weighed in with 21.

Apart from those batsmen, no other PHC player managed to hang around as Cuts secured the win in exactly 43 overs.

Former Southampton player Sidney Simmons marked his debut for Cuts in style. Simmons grabbed two wickets for 34 runs, Charles Swan - recently back from Italy - took two for 18 while Tucker snared two victims for a mere nine runs. Veteran spinner Kevin Fubler had one for 49.