Allan Douglas enjoyed a timely return to top form as he guided St David’s to a nine-wicket win over an out-of-sorts St George’s in the Twenty20 Premier Division at Lord’s yesterday.

St David’s elected to bowl and it appeared a wise decision as basement boys St George’s stuttered to a below-par 72-4 off of their 20 overs, with only Detroy Smith (20) and Onias Bascome (29) managing to reach double figures.

It was a target St David’s, and Douglas in particular made short work of, bludgeoning 53 off of just 16 balls, to help take his side to 76 for one off of just 3.5 overs, and secure a welcome second win of the Twenty20 campaign.

Lionel Cann added 18, while Ankoma Cannonier (0) proved the only loss, as he suffered a “Mankad” run-out at the hands of Detroy Smith.

“I’ve been really out of form all season and today tried to just relax, go out there and enjoy myself and try and play my shots,” said Douglas, who scored just four in a nine-wicket defeat to Bailey’s Bay on Saturday.

“Today was about trying to build my confidence and chasing 72 runs; I just wanted to get out there and find some rhythm again.

“Obviously, with Cup Match and the Bermuda squad selection coming up, I’m trying to impress again. I just needed to relax into my game because I’ve been tense all season up until now.

“When you’re in a bad run of form it can really play on your mind; cricket can be a gruelling game at times.

“You have to keep telling yourself to keep focused on every ball and maintain your sanity while you’re batting.

“It’s a really timely win for us. We’ve been struggling massively with the bat and so to go out there and wrap up victory so quickly was a massive bonus.

“We needed to win after a disappointing loss to Bailey’s Bay. It happens, but it was really important to come out and get back on track and thankfully we did that.

“Hopefully we can build on this now. We’ve been struggling all season but we can definitely end it on a more positive note.”

Having been put into bat, St George’s openers Detroy Smith and Winston Simmons had put just 13 runs on the board before the latter was run out in calamitous fashion with three overs gone. Captain Onias Bascome (29 not out) joined Smith at the crease and helped steady the innings, taking the score to 40 after 11.4 overs, before Smith cut a Brian Hall delivery straight into the hands of Oliver Pitcher Jr.

From there, St George’s endured difficulties with Isaish Wales coming and going for two runs, just two overs later, caught by Cann off the bowling of Delyone Borden.

Ben Phipps failed to do much better, scoring three runs from 11 balls before departing in the thirteenth over, trapped leg before by Pitcher Jr to leave his side on 51 for four with a little over three overs remaining.

Jelani Carlington (3 not out) joined Bascome at the crease and managed to see out the innings without further loss, adding a further 21 runs as St George’s finished their allotted overs on 72 for four.

St David’s reply proved short but sweet with Douglas back to his devastating best after coming in at No 3.

The only disappointment was Cannonier’s dismissal for nought, falling victim to an opportunistic “Mankad” run out to Smith, who caught the batsmen off guard with the score at 15 for one in the first over.

However, St George’s delight was short-lived as Douglas joined Cann at the crease and immediately set about smashing Smith, Bascome and Phipps all over the pitch, hitting boundaries with regularity.

The pair took St David’s to 42 for one off of just two overs, before needing just 12 runs to win just an over later.

With just three runs needed after 3.4 overs, Douglas fittingly struck the decisive blow, slugging a massive six to take St David’s beyond their target to finish on 72 for four after just 3.5 overs and condemn winless St George’s to a fourth consecutive T20 defeat.

Douglas’s innings of 53 included six sixes and three fours from 16 balls, while Cann finished on 18, including two fours and one six.

“Right now we’re struggling for players and it’s having a real big affect on the team,” said Carlington on St George’s woes.

“Hopefully, they’ll be back soon because we need things to change ahead of the return of the 50-overs game.

“We need that experience to help us change the way the things are going at the moment. Hopefully we can do that because we’re confident things can improve.”