LORDS (Southampton Rangers won toss) – PHC, 243-5, beat Rangers, 230 all out, by 13 runs.

PHC claimed the first silverware of the season with a thrilling Belco Cup win over Southampton Rangers yesterday.

The Warwick side stunned the defending champions, scraping home by just 13 runs, with 6.2 overs to spare at Lords.

David Adams took the last wicket of tailender Kerry Tucker to spark jubilant scenes in St David's, but it was Kevin Tucker, who took four wickets including the priceless scalp of Janeiro Tucker, who set his side on the way to victory.

Dwayne Leverock and Janeiro Tucker were cruising at 179 for four when Kevin Tucker came back for his second spell. The Rangers duo had already put on 68 for the fifth wicket, and with 16 overs remaining were well on course to chase down PHC's 243, and secure their side's seventh Belco triumph.

However, the new ball changed the game, and it took Tucker just two deliveries to make the breakthrough, bowling Leverock (22), who went to drive through the covers, but only succeded in dragging the ball on to his stumps.

That sparked a mini collapse, with Quinton Burch and Jason Wade both falling to Cal Waldron the next over. From 179 for four, Rangers were 181 for seven and struggling.

Janeiro Tucker though had other ideas, and his brutal assault on the PHC attack saw him take 17 from just one over. At 211 for seven, Rangers were suddenly back in the ascendency, and then came the moment that changed the game.

Already the victim of a poor lbw decision on Saturday during his side's crushing six-wicket victory over Bailey's Bay, Janeiro Tucker's dismissal yesterday, when he was adjudged lbw to a delivery that pitched outside leg, meant everything.

The Rangers talisman left for 80, and Traddie Simpson followed two balls later, leaving Rangers with one wicket and still 34 runs short.

Youngters Kerry Tucker and Stefan Dill weren't about to go without a fight, and their stubborness gave PHC a few scares, but Kerry Tucker tried to sweep one straight ball too many and they fell just short.

In truth PHC were deserved winners, and they had to do it the hard way, beating two of the best teams on the Island in the process.

They scored almost 500 runs over the weekend, took 17 wickets, and played with a maturity that belies the fact that this will be only their second year in the top flight.

As with Saturday's semi-final win over St David's, where they chased down 228 to win, the foundation for yesterday's win was laid on an impressive batting display that was a mixture of brutal hitting, and a patient accumulation of runs.

The brutal part came from Dean Stephens, who smashed 54 from just 35 balls, hitting five fours, and three sixes in a 73 run fourth wicket partnership with Bermuda opener Fiqre Crockwell. The pair came together when Jason Anderson (41) was caught by Kerry Tucker, leaving PHC on 103 for three.

Once Stephens at gone following one hit too many, and been caught behind off the bowling of Stefan Dill, it was Dean Richards' turn to set about the Rangers attack.

Richards hammered out a quick-fire 25, as the PHC run rate, which had started at a rather sedate pace accelerated rapidly.

All this time Crockwell (50) was anchoring the other end, quietly compiling a half century which he reached with the penultimate ball of the innings.

There was nothing patient about Rangers' reply, with openers Dion Stovell and Kwane Tucker making their intentions known from the off.

Kwane Tucker (10) became Kevin Tucker's first victim, when he tried to slash at a bouncer, and was caught by Richards at fine leg. After that however, it was all about the brutal power of Stovell (37) and Curtis Jackson (42).

The pair butchered the PHC bowling, and had taken their side to 99 in just 17 overs, when David Adams made his first impression on the game, removing both in one over, helped out by good catches from Kyle Lightbourne and Waldron.

At 100 for three, the game was evenly balanced, and the loss of Shannon Rayner soon after only gave PHC a slight edge, but then Janeiro Tucker and Leverock came together, and the game changed once more.

Tucker's own brand of destructive batting, and his sheer will to win, looked to have settled the match. But this has been PHC's weekend, and after this performance, who's to say it won't be their season.

n Western Stars got their First Division season off to a flying start on Saturday with a nine-wicket hammering of Warwick at St John's Field.

In the only league encounter of the weekend, the visitors were skittled out for just 60, with Joshua Butler (24), the only batsman to put up any resistance.

Jervanie Fubler was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for just three runs. Wayne Campbell (32*) then guided Stars home with the minimum of fuss.