Tuff Dogs pulled off an historic victory in the Central Counties Cup when they became the first Evening League team to win a match in the competition by beating holders Western Stars by three wickets in the first round on Saturday.

The match looked out of the reach of Tuff Dogs when Stars posted a challenging 226 for nine in their 50 overs. However, guest players Jordan DeSilva and Derrick Brangman helped pace the run chase with good knocks of 47 and 68 before captain Terence Corday completed the impressive victory with two straight sixes off Wendell White’s final over.

Two stands of 30 for the second and third wickets between Trevor Corday and Gary Ray and then Corday and DeSilva enabled Tuff Dogs to recover after Tim Davies was out in the third over when the score was five. However, two wickets went down on 65 and 67 to have Dogs wobbling at 67 for four before a match-changing stand of 81 between Somerset Cup Match pair DeSilva and Brangman pulled them right back in the match as the crowd, even Stars players, began to fear an upset was on the cards.

DeSilva departed on 148 for five when he was caught behind by Treadwell Gibbons for 47 which came off 62 balls. Brangman departed 50 runs later on 198 for seven in the 36th over, trapped lbw by White, however, Tuff Dogs were now on the brink of victory with 29 runs needed and with plenty of overs remaining.

Brangman’s top knock of 68 came off 59 balls and included four fours and six sixes, every six like a dagger in the hearts of the Stars players.

Dean Minors then took on the responsibility of shepherding his team to victory, batting sensibly for 14 not out in an unbroken stand of 34 for the eighth wicket with his captain who finished on 17.

Opener Trevor Corday scored a valuable 29 before he was trapped lbw by White to be third out on 65, furious with the decision as he walked off. “We got off to a slow start losing two wickets before Jordan and Derrick really consolidated,” said the Tuff Dogs captain.

“There was a little nerves but we were always well ahead of the run rate and had plenty of overs.

“With quality like Dean Minors coming in at No 8 we were pretty confident we could see it through. The guest players really came through for us today, really were a big help.”

Terence Corday then smashed a full toss off a White no-ball over the cover boundary for six and then with the free hit on the next ball drove a straight six to end the match. “He gave me a free full toss and I was able to open my arms up and then from the free hit I was going to try to end it on that swing,” Corday explained.

“We’re elated, happy that they asked us to play in the competition three years ago. Some of us had played in the Premier Division and some of us hadn’t. This is a big deal for the club, to show that we can still compete with some of these teams.

“Other than the age and commitment level of some of the guys, we showed that we can still play when we have to. We’re a seasoned league team past our prime and this is all a bonus for us. Tonight will be a good night.”

Seth Campbell, White and Nyon Steede all claimed two wickets for Stars as they battled to the end.

Earlier, Brian Hall, a guest player, led the Stars batting with 46 from 38 balls in the middle order from two fours and three sixes after sharing in a fourth wicket stand of 64 with PJ Thomas to take the score from 74 to 138. Hall and Thomas (26) both departed on 138 as Tuff Dogs fought back, before a good knock of 41 not out from captain Justin Robinson saw Stars past the 200 mark. Treadwell Gibbons, the other guest player for Stars, scored 27 from 36 balls at No 3 before a smart legside stumping by Dean Minors removed Stars’ biggest batting threat to make it 74 for three.

threat to make it 74 for three Left-arm bowlers DeSilva and Brangman were impressive with the ball early on, DeSilva claiming four for 51 from ten overs of medium pace while spinner Brangman had outstanding figures of two for 18 from ten overs with three maidens. Opener Trevor Corday took two for 22 from five overs.

Arnold Manders, the Western Stars coach, is a registered Tuff Dogs player and has vowed to play in the second round against Devonshire Rec on June 9. “Tuff Dogs are a strong team and could beat every team in the First Division,” Manders said. “I’m playing in the next round and in the final too.

“Stars didn’t execute their plan today, should have scored more runs, they dropped catches and didn’t bowl a good line and length. They dropped Derrick on four and again on 30-odd.”

Brangman was put down by Seth Campbell in the covers in the 28th over when the score was 135 for four. He was eventually out in the 36th over. “We didn’t have a leader in the team, three of our senior players are away, Jekon [Edness], Jacobi [Robinson] and Andre [Manders],” Manders said.

“Tuff Dogs have guys who have played in the Premier Division and Tim [Davies], an Australian, can play for any Premier team.

He prefers to play in the Evening League and have fun on the weekends. I tried to get him to play for Stars.”