Southampton Rangers 290-8; PHC 252-8

Master blaster Janeiro Tucker hammered the season's first century at Southampton Oval on Saturday.

But it still wasn't enough to ensure Rangers victory as this Open League contest between these two Western Counties rivals fizzled out into a tame draw.

The former national team cricketer slammed 142 off 97 balls in a whirlwind knock laced with 18 fours and eight sixes after his team were sent into bat for showing up late for the toss.

Tucker was dropped at second slip when on three off the bowling of Dean Stephens and he made PHC pay dearly, thumping the ball to all segments of the ground with some robust strokeplay.

He added 137 for the eighth wicket with Kerry Tucker (29 not out) and 42 runs for the fifth wicket with Dwayne Leverock (18) after Rangers had slipped from 70 for one to 77 for four inside four overs.

Second change bowler Cal Waldron was the architect behind the slide as he accounted for three of the first four wickets to fall.

The PHC skipper bowled 17 overs unchanged and eventually finished with superb figures of five for 64 before Tucker reached his century in the 52nd over of the innings after scampering between the wickets for two.

After registering a first ton of the new season, the Rangers player/coach cut loose and showed absolutely no mercy on teenage seamer Keishon Wilson who was carted for 23 runs in his seventh over.

Also contributing to Rangers' impressive total was Gerald Simons who chipped in with 36 off 47 balls, batting at the top of the order.

Stephens tossed down six maidens on the way to economical figures of two for 58 off 19 overs.

Led by sparkling half -centuries from Jason Anderson (68) and Fiqre Crockwell (56), PHC made a fist of it in reply.

The visitors were seemingly cruising to victory at 197 for four but were knocked off stride after losing four wickets for the addition of 49 runs as Rangers fought back, with Leverock picking up two quick wickets and Kevin Tucker (0) running himself out to keep the pressure on.

Anderson hit seven fours and two sixes and added 63 for the first wicket with Ricardo Brangman (15) and a further 70 for the second wicket with national team player Crockwell who helped himself to six boundaries.

Crockwell also shared in a 54-run third wicket stand with Stephens (37) as a thin Rangers attack toiled in vain on a green top.

Under-19 national team player Wilson chipped in with 24 scored off 42 balls.

Left arm orthodox spinner Leverock was the pick of the Rangers bowling with tidy figures of three for 49 off 17 overs with five maidens. Seamers Jason Wade (two for 54) and Janeiro Tucker (two for 58) had two each.

Young Men's Social Club 217; Police 99

Occasional medium pacer Nakia Smith produced career-best figures of six for 12 and middle order bat David Lovell blasted 94 as Social Club made light work of Police at Somerset Cricket Club.

Smith was introduced into his team's attack in the 12th over and his arrival triggered a massive slide that saw Police's last seven wickets tumble for 42 runs.

Skipper Garvin Aparicio led the Police resistance with a solid 27 but virtually threw his wicket away when he was stumped, charging down the crease to Smith.

And when big hitters Dennis Archer (two) and Andy Cumberbatch (one) both went cheaply shortly after, the writing began to appear on the wall as Smith mopped up the lower order with consummate ease before Shawn Broom delayed the inevitable with a brisk 22.

Supporting Smith, who also had a maiden during a devastating 6.5 over burst, was seamer Nelson Bascome jr who had two for 38.

Earlier, Lovell banged seven fours and five sixes during a belligerent 105-ball knock that rescued his team from the ticklish position of 33 for four.

He added 75 runs for the fifth wicket with Detroy Smith, who held his end of the bargain with a fluent 34, and a further 46 runs with Jaymo Durham (14 not out) lower down the order before he became the last Social Club wicket to fall in the 53rd over.

Jamaican-born pacer Traddie Simpson inflicted the heaviest damage with the ball for Police, snatching four for 46 off 15 overs. Dennis Archer (two for 51) and Melvin Best (two for 18) had two wickets each.

St. David's 202; Somerset CC 87

Justin Pitcher and Angelo Cannonier combined to take six wickets while skipper Delyone Borden top scored with 49 to lead St. David's to this convincing 115-run victory over Somerset at Lord's.

But it was a match that barely got underway after the visitors showed up with just seven players and were forced to struggle with that number for 90 minutes before reinforcements arrived.

Somerset, however, had the hosts in trouble at 50 for five before Justin Pitcher and Borden put on 94 for the sixth wicket, the former scoring 48.

Also among the runs for the East Enders were Kevin Gardiner (18) while Adrian Burrows and Shea Pitcher each contributed 12 before St. David's were dismissed in 44.2 overs. Jordan DeSilva was the leading bowler for Somerset with four for 36 off 15 overs while young Joshua Gilbert claimed two for 39 off 9.2 overs.

Skipper Jacobi Robinson chipped in with two wickets for 50 off eight overs.

Somerset's batting was frail with few offering any real resistance as the match ended after just 27.4 overs. They never really recovered after a shaky start when number two bat Tony Cheeseman went with the total on four.

Skipper Robinson was top bat on 22 while Dwight Basden and Shaquille Bean each scored 12. Justin Pitcher turned in the fine bowling figures of three for 12 off nine overs while Angelo Cannonier also had a three-wicket haul while giving up 26 off nine overs.

Cleveland County 124; Devonshire Rec. 125-9

Wilbur Burt snapped up six wickets to inspire Devonshire to this one-wicket victory.

Cleveland batted cautiously with their meagre total coming off 49.2 overs, Kian Butterfield leading the way with 48 while Tamauri Tucker hit 16, Courtney Trott 13 and Levar Talbot 10.

Medium-pacer Burt finished with six for 36 off 19.2 overs, including five maidens, while Lamont Brangman took two for 29 off 11 overs.

Devonshire's batsmen struggled in the run chase, scraping home in 36.5 overs with a wicket to spare.

Chris Foggo, a new recruit from St. David's, was high man on 32 while Odapo Fredericks followed on 30, player-coach Ricky Brangman hit 15 and Kameron Fox, another player who has moved over from St. David's, recorded an unbeaten 13.

Lavar Talbot was the most successful bowler for Cleveland with his leg breaks claiming five for 26 off 7.5 overs. Diaz Simons finished with two for 37 off eight overs.

The game at Wellington Oval between St. George's and Flatts was not played after the latter could not field a team. Umpire Roger Dill reportedly gave them 30 minutes after the scheduled 10 a.m. starting time. The majority of the Flatts players arrived around 10.45 believing the starting time was 11a.m. St. George's are expected to be awarded the points by forfeit.

The contest involving Somerset Bridge and Bailey's Bay at White Hill Field was not played after the umpires failed to show up.