St. David's 127-4 So much for Bailey's Bay's claim to being the best team this season! Their anticipated showdown with St. George's in the Knockout Cup final next weekend will not materialise, after the Overs League champions crashed to a sensational six-wicket defeat at the hands of St. David's at Police Field.

Spinner Kameron Fox snatched five wickets for 13 off nine overs and opening batsman Shea Pitcher stroked 55 runs to lead St. David's to their first Knockout final, setting the stage for an interesting match against their neighbours St. George's.

However, after dismissing Bay for their modest total of 122 off 33.5 overs, St. David's were forced to toil before reaching their winning target largely because of some inspiring bowling and tight fielding by Bay who pulled out all the stops in their bid to avoid defeat.

St. David's were relieved in the end to reach victory with just seven balls remaining as Allen Richardson, who saved them in the Eastern Counties final the day before, again came to their rescue with 22 not out.

On a day when Bay's batsmen struggled, they at least made amends by giving a spirited fielding display. Bay's bowling was inspired by Clarkie Trott, skippering for the day, Charlie Marshall, Dennis Pilgrim and Ricky Hill who all managed to keep a tight line and length to prevent a steady flow of runs from the eager St. David's batsmen.

Marshall finished with the best figures of two for 18 from 9.5 overs, including three maidens. However, each played a valuable hand in forcing the batsmen to sweat it out for runs.

In addition to finding the bowling tight, opener Pitcher, when he was able to unleash a fierce drive, could only watch with agony as the ball often seemed to reach the grateful hands of a fielder to deny him of runs. But in the end Pitcher had the last laugh, his 55 helping to steer St. David's to within reach of their target. He struck eight fours.

He lost opening partner Desmond Crockwell (0) in the first over with just one run scored, but Shea Pitcher and young O.J.Pitcher (21) added 44 for the second wicket. Then Shea Pitcher and Sammy Robinson (7) put on 30 for the third wicket with Robinson being bowled by Marshall at 73 for three.

Shea Pitcher and veteran Richardson (22 not out) took it to 108 before Pitcher became Marshall's second victim, but Richardson and Graham Fox (one not out) added the remaining 14 runs to take them to victory.

Bay's batting had earlier showed signs of the season-ending blues with just four players being able to reach double figures: Irving Romaine (31), Ricky Hill (24), Clarkie Trott (15) and Roger Trott (11).

After losing openers Trott and Cal Dill (1) with just 16 runs scored, Bay were unable to settle down for any extended period.

One period of stability came when Romaine and Hill put on 40 for the fourth wicket, taking the score from 32 for three to 72 but when Hill was out the batting disintegrated.

Supporting Kameron Fox in the bowling department was Sammy Robinson, who took two for 45 off 10 overs after being called upon to share the new ball with his captain in the absence of Rudell Pitcher.

St. David's used just four bowlers in dismissing Bay.