Western Stars 50-4 Western Stars successfully retained the Central Counties Cup with this predictable defeat of hapless Social Club at St. John's Field on Saturday.

Stars won by six wickets as left-arm spinner Hasan Durham destroyed the visitors' batting with a five-wicket haul, mowing through the early and middle order and ending with miserly figures of five for eight.

It was always set to be a short outing once Social Club elected to bat first on a pitch of uneven bounce.

The wickets tumbled early and often, with no batsman managing double figures.

Such ineptitude was further highlighted by the `top scorer' -- 20 wide balls recorded in the extras column out of an overall total of 49.

Assisting Durham in the bowling department were Gary Brangman and Treadwell Gibbons, who each took one wicket, while there were an additional three run outs.

Meanwhile, Stars did themselves few favours when batting, as they stumbled to 16 for four before Gibbons and Arnold Manders saw them through to the winning target. Gibbons posted 12 not out, while Manders finished unbeaten on 13.

Tucker claimed three for 19 from five overs of medium pace to emerge as the most successful bowler for Social Club.

Stars move on to face Devonshire Rec. in the next round.