Southampton Rangers made a successful start to their pursuit of a fourth major trophy this season by thrashing Western Stars by six wickets yesterday in the first round of the Premier Division Knockout Cup.

Shorn of all their national team players, who only returned from Canada yesterday lunchtime, the reigning Belco Cup, two-day and limited over Premier Division champions were still much too strong for an inexperienced Stars outfit lacking in confidence after an indifferent season.

Bundled out for a mere 127 some 12 overs shy of their allotted 50, Stars? batsmen looked all at sea against a determined and accurate Rangers attack led by veteran Keith Wainwright, who picked up the excellent figures of five for 39 off his ten overs.

Coach Clevie Wade ? pressed into service because of the many absences ? also enjoyed a rare day on the field, picking up two wickets for only nine runs off five overs.

Opener Maurice Lowe (29) and lefthander Treadwell Gibbons jr (22) both did the hard work but failed to convert, while a patient 20 not out down the order from Matt Clarke helped Stars limp beyond the 100 mark.

Early wickets were a must for Stars when they bowled but they never came, as Wainwright rounded off a superb day with a well-made 53, sharing in a 77-run opening stand with Curtis Jackson (43) to put the game well beyond the hosts.

Stars captain Justin Robinson used eight bowlers in a desperate search for breakthroughs ? even giving wicketkeeper Jekon Edness a chance to turn his arm over.

But only Machai Campbell (two for 18) and Ja Millett (one for 16) enjoyed any sort of success.

Having been relegated from the limited overs Premier Division last week, Warwick?s season ended with a whimper at the Southampton Oval yesterday when Flatts rolled them over by eight wickets.

Batting first, Warwick were all out for a paltry 117 with Flatts? Kijuan Franks enjoying a good day at the office with figures of three for 17.

And Flatts had very little trouble knocking off the runs as well, as Vernon Eve (36) in particular took advantage of some very friendly Warwick bowling.