Charlie Marshall proved that he had overcome any physical worries that may have still existed in his mind by turning in a solid all-round performance to inspire Bailey's Bay to a 101-run victory over home team Devonshire Rec. in yesterday's top Premier Division match.

By taking maximum points Bailey's Bay remain one of four undefeated teams in the league with six points. Southampton Rangers are in first place on strike rate followed by Western Stars, Bay and St. George's.

Marshall, who always seemed to be remarkably composed after recent illness threatened his cricket career, easily grabbed man-of-the-match honours by hammering 69 runs and then taking two wickets for a mere 12 runs against formidable opposition.

Devonshire Rec. found the winning target of 259 to be far beyond their reach and once skipper Albert Steede, Lloyd Morrison and Jason Lewis were dismissed before they reached the century mark their chances of pulling off victory grew increasingly worse. Steede, though hampered by a pulled hamstring while fielding and forced to use a runner while batting, stroked 31 while Morrison hit 27 and Lewis seven.

Bailey's Bay though must had been concerned when Anthony Amory (34) and Mark Ray (18) added 51 for the fourth wicket, taking the score from 81 to 132 but once Marshall was brought into the attack he soon had Ray caught and bowled to halt the stand.

Amory continued hitting the ball firmly and seemed capable of putting on some quick runs to make a game out of it. But with Devonshire needing 111 runs to win and 13 overs remaining his new partner Leon Place was sensationally run out at mid-on by Devrae Hollis with the score now six for 148 and hope now seemingly lost.

Then, Amory fell in the first over of Noel Gibbons' second spell, playing indecisively and giving a simple catch to Hollis at mid-on.

Hard-hitting Anthony Edwards was one batsman Bay knew was capable of putting on quick runs but Marshall quickly had him lbw for just one.

Then two incredible run-outs by Dennis Pilgrim fielding at mid-on to dismiss Roger Trott and Erskine Smith, virtually sealed victory for Bay.

Gibbons was the top bowler for Bay with three for 37 from 9.4 overs. Marshall had two maidens in his five overs.

Bailey's Bay had earlier had a modest start to their innings with openers Chris Smith (25) and Devrae Hollis (27) putting on 48.

Hollis went first and Smith departed 14 runs later, then stability came when Marshall and Glenn Smith (25) put on 46 for the third wicket.

Afterwards Marshall and Gibbons put on 33 for the fourth wicket at which time Gibbons was run out for the second straight week, for 10. Jermaine Outerbridge went immediately afterwards for a duck and Marshall and Clarkie Darrell (24) then put on 56 runs for the sixth wicket. This stand ended when Darrell was run out.

Marshall and Clarkie Trott then tore the bowling to threads with a hard-hitting stand dominated by the latter who struck 42 off 17 balls, hitting five sixes and two fours.

Marshall was eventually out when a fierce drive was caught on the mid-wicket boundary by Mark Ray, denying the batsman a six. He finished with five fours and three sixes off 93 balls during his stay at the wicket that lasted 135 minutes.

Mark Trott was the best bowler for Devonshire with two wickets for 34 runs while Amory had two for 57.

Somerset 212-9 Police 186 Police will be kicking themselves for the many ways in which they let victory slip from their grasp at Somerset Cricket Club.

First they gave away 53 extras and allowed Somerset's last two, Charles Swan and Steval Arorash, to add an invaluable 36 in 16 overs. Then they crashed to defeat after scoring 90 runs off the first 10 overs.

Police appeared in great position with Dennis Archer and Tyrone Smith putting on 77 for the first wicket in quick time.

The duo had done all the batting for Police up to that point in the season, following successive 10-wicket wins, but when Smith hit across the line against Perry Maybury he was out lbw for 39. Smith had hit seven fours and a six.

Archer suffered the same fate as Smith, but against young medium-pacer Arorash when he had made 49 and the score was 106. Archer struck six fours and two sixes.

The vulnerability after the first two was painfully evident for Police as no one was able to get going. Former Somerset player Donovan Livingston (18) hung around through four partners before he was seventh out at 149.

Charles Swan, who had scored 20 not out, continued to impress with the ball as he claimed three for 46. Shannon Warner took two for 41 and Maybury two for 47.

Winston Reid and Kevin Saunders laid the foundation for Somerset's innings after the loss of Jermaine Warner (nought) with only one run on the board.

The pair put on 76 runs before Saunders was out for 28. Reid went on to make 40, having hit five fours in 86 minutes. Davon Wade scored 23.

Hoyte claimed two for 29, Hurdle two for 41 and Ossie Hinds two for 46 for Police.

CHARLIE'S BACK -- Charlie Marshall hit a confident 69 and took two wickets in Bay's big win yesterday.