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Southampton in seventh heaven
Posted: 2011-05-16

Janeiro Tucker drives through the covers during his match-winning 81 not out

PHC 190-9
Southampton 1206-8
Southampton won by two wickets at St. David’s

Top batsman Janeiro Tucker struck 81 not out as Southampton Rangers won a seventh Belco Cup title on Sunday, beating PHC in a repeat of last year’s final.
The match has a bizarre end end when, with Rangers still nine runs short of an outright victory, the umpires Stephen Douglas and Kent Gibbons declared Rangers the winners after PHC were penalised for a slow bowling rate, with Rangers awarded 24 penalty runs for the four remaining overs.
It was a match that was shaping up for as thrilling finish as Rangers, who comfortably chased Willow Cuts 226 in the semi-final the day before, made hard work of their run chase. PHC, who managed only 190 after being sent in by Rangers, threatened to beat their favoured opponents for the second straight time in the final. Rangers were in deep trouble at 138-8, but they still had one trump card remaining…the competition’s most oustanding batsman Janeiro Tucker, who batted sensibly to protect Cal Waldron removed Shannon Rayner and Jason Wade on successive balls before Staphen Dill went for a big hit off the final delivery of a Charles Symons over and was bowled. A ‘dot ball’ would have enabled Tucker to retain the strike and the Rangers veteran had a few choice words for Dill as he walked off.
After Tucker ran out Ryan Belboda when he called for a quick single in trying to reclaim the strike, he found a more responsible partner in Traddie Simpson and together they pushed Rangers towards their target as Tucker counted the balls and kept the strike as he and Simpson added 44 for the unbroken ninth wicket. As was the case last year when they won by 13 runs, PHC knew the importance of Tucker’s wicket. He fell for 79 in last year’s final but this time was unbeaten on 81 as Rangers secured victory.
The other main scorer for Rangers was opener Dion Stovell who followed up the season’s first century against Willow Cuts on Saturday with a useful 48. Charles Symonds led the PHC bowling with three for 33 from seven overs and Cal Waldron two for 28 off 10 overs.
Earlier Janeiro Tucker also led the Rangers bowling with three for 37 and Stovell two for 38 as PHC also slumped after a promising start. Number three bat Kamau Leverock led the batting with 49 while Chris Foggo scored 26 as the pair added 58 for the third wicket.

Saturday’s semi-finals

Willow Cuts 226
Southampton 229-3
Kevon Fublert scored 52 and George O’Brien and Chris Douglas 33 each as Willow Cuts posted 226 at St. David’s. Janeiro Tucker claimed three for 35 and Dion Stovell two for 47.
In reply Rangers lost three wickets in reaching their target, Stovell leading the way with 112 not out, the season’s first century. Shannon Raynor scored 33 not out in support as former Rangers captain Malachi Jones took two for 48 for Willow Cuts who were competing in the Belco Cup for the first time.

PHC 289-6
Bailey’s Bay 91
Teenager Kamau Leverock led the PHC batting at Somerset with 89 while captain Jason Anderson scored 87 in PHC’s big total. David Lovell took four for 41 for Bay, who started badly in their run chase and never recovered, posting just 91 with Stephen Outerbridge high man with 24 and Kyle Hodsoll 16. Hasan Durham took three for 14 and Kevin Tucker three for 22 for the defending champions.