It is said that “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” On Saturday, Southampton Rangers served up an icy helping, capturing the Western Counties Cup and leaving Warwick Workmen’s Club with nothing frostbitten on a hot summer day.
Even after being stripped of hosting duties and forced to sweat it out, the challengers kept their cool, choosing brains over brawn, calculation over combustion, with the result being Warwick Workmen’s Club having to pick up their pride along with the pieces.
Indeed, Warwick couldn’t walk tall nor find shelter from their neighbours’ storm, as Rangers marched all over the defending champions, waltzing to a 72-run victory at White Hill Field.
“We destroyed them today,” said Rangers’ president Darren Burchall of the triumph. “Our players and supporters have had to bear a lot as a result of the decision made by the Western Counties.
“Today has been a great day for us and I’m really happy that we were able to stay patient and calm and have our frustration turn to joy.
“We were angry about the situation, but we were able to contain our anger and frustration and today we were vindicated.”
Keying the triumph was the trio of Dalin Richardson, Oronde Bascome and Man-of-the-Match Derrick Brangman, the first two starring with the bat, while Brangman mesmerized his opponents with a lesson in slow-bowling.
After electing to bat first, Rangers got off to an inauspicious start, losing opener Nacori Smith before scoring a run.
However, hopeful foretelling for Warwick was dismissed by a 95-run second-wicket stand between Bascome [53] and captain Alex Dore [27].
Another half-century stand for the fourth wicket further strengthened Rangers’ position, as they moved to 164, setting the stage for Richardson [57] to treat the audience to a batting masterclass with strokes so sweet they could have come with dessert.
Richardson’s controlled aggression left Warwick’s bowlers flustered and their fielders chasing shadows, as the Rangers piled up 220, a par score on a slow field with a deteriorating track.
Warwick proved unequal to the task of chasing, a lack of discipline and batting cohesion, combined with the genius of Brangman.
After Donte Brangman and Jordan DeSilva removed opening pair Malachi Jones [19] and Luke Fulton [16], Derrick Brangman ensured Warwick never recovered, his left-arm orthodox spin bowling proving all but unplayable by a fragile middle and late order.
Once Derrick Brangman trapped dangerman Kamau Leverock lbw for 24 while attempting a sweep better left in the broom closet, Warwick’s fate was sealed. And even as Tre Manders bravely battled for a team-high 42, the rest of the lineup folded faster than a cheap deckchair, tumbling to 148 all out.
Derrick Brangman returned figures of five for 28 from 9.1 overs, while to namesake Donte Bragman grabbed two for 34, Micah Jacobs two for 32 and DeSilva one for 33.
Rangers next face Willow Cuts in the final round of the competition.
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