Southampton Rangers successfully retained the Western Counties Cup courtesy of a nine-wicket thrashing of Warwick on Saturday at Southampton Oval.

Playing the part of unforgiving hosts, Rangers' bowlers swept through the visitors' frail batting line-up, knocking them down for a meagre total of 93 runs.

Gary Williams and Quinton Burch began the destruction, sharing in the first three wickets before turning it over to Janeiro Tucker and player/coach Clevie Wade to complete the job.

Tucker captured three wickets, including that of top scorer Daniel Morgan (18) while Wade turned in the day's best figures of four for 18.

Warwick knew they were in trouble when the first four wickets fell for 36 runs. But Morgan and Kevin Dill added respectability with a 35-run fifth-wicket partnership.

However, from 71 for five, they were only able to add 22 runs before the remaining five batsmen were back in the pavilion having batted for only 31 of their allotted 60 overs.

Southampton needed only 15 overs to trigger their celebrations with Keith Wainwright leading the way with 51 not out and Stevie Lightbourne likewise unbeaten on 27. The lone wicket to fall for the champions was that of Michael Brangman, who was caught behind by Wallace Minors off the bowling of skipper Hoyt Zuill.

Wainwright and Lightbourne flourished in a second-wicket partnership worth 76 runs that killed any hopes of glory for Warwick.

KEITH WAINWRIGHT -- Unbeaten 51.