Somerset CC 119

St.David's CC 123 for

two

St.David's Cricket Club were crowned kings of local Twenty20 cricket on Saturday night after crushing rivals Somerset by eight-wickets.

With 12 to 18 knot southwesterly winds and scattered showers sweeping across the NSC, winning the toss was always going to be crucial.

Lady Luck rode with Islanders' skipper Lionel Cann who guessed correct in calling tails.

All-rounder Cann also led by example with the ball as he exploited the damp conditions with gentle seam, during a remarkable four over spell that yielded four wickets for 31 runs and aided in Somerset's demise.

St.David's were never really bothered in their reply and eventually achieved victory with six-balls to spare, thanks in no small part to valuable contributions from Chris Foggo (32), Landro Minors (38 not out) and OJ Pitcher (36 not out) who compounded Somerset's misery in the field.

Earlier, openers Dwight Basden (nine) and Jermaine Warner (42) gave Somerset a promising start before off-spinner Delyone Borden made the breakthrough when he trapped the former leg before in the fourth over.

Warner was in punishing form at the crease and after Somerset slipped to 52 for two much rode on his bat. The powerful right hander faced 30 deliveries and slapped four boundaries to the fence but was needlessly run out at the non-striker's end.

Warner's dismissal tipped the scales in St.David's favor for the remainder of the innings as Somerset surrendered wickets at regular intervals, with only the battling Reid Jones (13) offering resistance.

Islanders' fifth change bowler Cann was Somerset's biggest threat as he got the ball to move in the air and off the pitch to keep the batsmen tied in knots. The veteran struck in the fifth, sixth, seventh and 20th overs and despite laying the foundation for his team's win was overlooked for man-of-the match which went to team-mate OJ Pitcher.

Pitcher shared in an unbroken 62-run third-wicket partnership that carried St.David's across the threshold to victory after openers Minors and Foggo had earlier got the innings off to a flyer, adding 45 runs in six overs to set the tempo.

In typical fashion, Foggo produced another whirlwind knock that lasted 26 balls and included four fours and a six. Minors, who hit two fours off 54 balls, was more watchful in his approach and along with Pitcher (three fours and a six off 25 balls) steadied the ship after the Islanders lost their second wicket in the 11th over.

Seamer Shane Hollis and off-spinner Marcus Johnston led the Somerset attack, claiming two for 17 and one for 23 respectively.

After watching his team bag the first trophy up for grabs this season, coach George Cannonier attributed the Islanders' success to their commitment to pre-season training.

"The guys were really up for this game having put in a lot of work during the pre-season.

"There's so much talent in this team. It's just a matter of grooming it and instilling the right mental attitude in the players."

Cannonier said winning the toss was also crucial in such conditions.

"I think that's what effected Somerset's bowlers because the ball got really wet and even guys like Hasan Durham had difficulty turning the ball."

In Saturday's opening Twenty20 consolation final, Police (105 for four) defeated Leg Trappers (102) by six-wickets.