Willow Cuts 197

Southampton 198-3

Keith Wainwright turned in a solid all round performance to help Southampton dethrone Western Counties champions Willow Cuts at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

Like a man on a mission, Wainwright featured superbly in every facet of the game, bowling tidily to bag two wickets for 23 runs off just six overs and then returning with the bat to anchor Southampton's innings, hanging around for a polished unbeaten 89.

The 38-year-old all rounder also took a fine catch at first slip to dismiss Dexter Basden (18), diving low to his right to scoop up a Clevie Wade outswinger that grazed the edge of Basden's bat.

He was also instrumental in the demise of Michael Corday (26), moving swiftly to the non-striker's end to clip the bails and leave Cuts' wicketkeeper stranded at mid-crease.

During a marathon innings that spanned 180 minutes, Wainwright faced 91 balls, combining patience with controlled aggression to decorate the scoreboard with nine fours and three sixes.

He gave early indication of the fireworks to come, smashing Cuts' opening bowler Charles Swan for a mighty six over the square leg boundary off the first ball of Southampton's innings.

The veteran bat also brought up his half century in equally fine manner, driving Steven Mendes through extra cover for four before pumping his fists in the air in obvious delight - perhaps symbolically signalling the end of a long run drought which has plagued him for the most part this season.

For these exemplary performances, Wainwright - who is also president of the Western Counties - was unanimously voted Man of the Match.

Southampton crossed Cuts modest total at 5.05 p.m. with seven wickets in hand and 66 balls to spare.

Fellow veterans Ricky Brangman and Stevie Lightbourne, also made significant contributions with the bat, scoring 44 and 33 respectively.

Lightbourne, in typical fashion, smashed seven fours in 34 minutes off just 21 deliveries - stroking four of his boundaries off young Sheroy Fubler's second over.

During this torrid period, the teenager momentarily lost his cool after he came in for some ribbing from the Southampton following - but three balls later, Fubler would have the last say, enticing the towering batsman to punch a widish delivery out to Wendell White fielding at point.

White dove low to take the brilliant catch, much to the delight of Fubler.

Southampton, though, were still ideally placed at 72 for two.

Cuts did, however, tighten the vice after Lightbourne's dismissal, White and veteran spinner Kevin Fubler combining to toss down five successive maidens.

But Wainwright promptly put an end to this tenacious bowling spell by smashing White through the long off boundary for four off the final ball of his fourth over.

Brangman, meanwhile, endured a shaky start at the other end, surviving two confident appeals for leg before wicket - senior umpire Randy Butler evidently unmoved.

But after settling down at the crease, Brangman and Wainwright coasted along to a 94 run partnership which put Southampton firmly back in the driving seat.

Brangman would be the last Southampton wicket to fall, just six runs shy of another deserved half century.

The veteran bat cracked five fours and two sixes and faced 48 balls.

It was then left to colt Saleem Mukuddem (six not out) and Wainwright to apply the finishing touches and ignite the celebrations among the home following.

Jacobi Robinson (one for 38), Sheroy Fubler (one for 21) and Dwight Basden (one for 26) were the only Cuts bowlers to snatch a wicket as they used eight bowlers in a failed attempt to dismiss the opposition.

Earlier, Rangers' player/coach Wade bowled ten unchanged overs and was handsomely rewarded with two for 21 of which two were maidens, while skipper Janeiro Tucker had two for 65 along with Wainwright's two scalps.

Cuts' deputising skipper Reggie Tucker Jr top scored for the west enders with a brisk 43 that contained six fours and a six, while Dwight Basden also contributed 26, Steven Mendes 27 and Robinson an unbeaten 24.

However, their slow run rate ultimately cost them in the end, Cuts scoring at just 3.4 per over.

In all, Rangers managed to reduce their opponents by using six bowlers, however, they did lose pacer Quinton Sherlock Jr. during his fourth over after the youngster suffered a cut to his right hand trying to hold onto a full-blooded Dexter Basden straight drive.

Sherlock was subsequently whisked to hospital and later returned to the ground after receiving three stitches to close the painful wound.

"I thought that the guys played extremely well today. The bowling, batting and fielding all came together for the first time in a long time and I must commend my players for a job well done," said Rangers' skipper Janeiro Tucker, obviously satisfied with the day's pickings after the match.

Rangers will now meet PHC in the next round on August 10 at the same venue.