Southampton Rangers made light work of Somerset Bridge, as they retained their Western Counties crown with a six-wicket mauling of the challengers at White Hill Field.
The result was a surprise to no one. Bridge entered as decided underdogs and, from the outset, it was only a matter of margin.
Still, that the match encompassed less than 47 overs in its entirety and was over by four o’çlock, giving ample time for all concerned to fulfil early dinner reservations, was an indictment of Bridge’s ineptitude.
Nevertheless, the affair began with Bridge winning the toss and deciding to bat _ perhaps hopeful of mimicking the performance of western neighbours, Somerset _. Still, such was the first of many mistakes.
Early promise offered by openers Jermal Proctor and Callum McIntosh was disavowed in the sixth over, when Donte Brangman’s medium pace accounted for the latter after scoring just three, with the total 13.
Three runs later, captain Adrian Burrows [1] followed his youngster into the tent.
With an early procession threatening, Procter and former skipper Joshua Gilbert constructed a wall of resistance, engaging in a 42-run third-wicket stand.
Tragically, Gilbert [16] and Procter [36] perished in the space of five balls, and while Jason Smith [19 not out] was able to anchor himself in the storm, the rest of Bridge’s line-up could not avoid being washed away for a total of 88 runs
Swayne Campbell and Derrick Brangman were the chief protagonists with the ball, each bagging three wickets, while evergreen Dion Stovell took two.
Rangers promoted Dante Wellman [20] to opener alongside Nacori Smith [17] and the pair combined for 39 runs, before the leg spin of McIntosh fooled Smith.
Captain Alex Dore [16] joined Wellman for a 28-run second-wicket partnership before two wickets quickly fell, those of Wellman and Dalin Richardson [0].
Dore also perished as Rangers closed in on the target, leaving Ricardo Brangman [2 not out] and Campbell [16 not out] to close out the match.
Campbell was named Man-of-the-Match for his all-round contribution to the result.
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