South Stars won the Social Development Commission's (SDC) National Community Cricket League, after producing a fantastic late batting display to defeat Broughton of Westmoreland by four wickets at the Alpart Sports Club in St Elizabeth on Sunday.

Chasing 152 for victory in the 20/20 contest, South Stars slumped to 24 for six in the ninth over, but rallied through a breathtaking 126-run seventh wicket partnership between 29-year-old Eukel Broomfield and 17-year-old Dean Walters.

Broomfield was the aggressor throughout, hitting seven sixes and five fours in posting 77 not out from 42 deliveries. Walters, a student at Knox College in Mandeville, finished unbeaten on 38 after hitting the final run needed in style - a brilliant lofted drive straight over the head of bowler Ewan Andrews from the second ball of the final over.

Batted efficiently

South Stars collected the first prize of 150,000 dollars, while relegating Broughton to their second straight second-place finish. Things had looked much different when the Little London-based team lost the toss, but they batted efficiently to gain a reasonable score on a wicket that would later produce uneven bounce.

Tedroy Bryson (34) and Damian Davidson (8) posted 26 for the opening partnership and Ewan Andrews (62) stepped in next to delight the spectators with what looked like a match-winning half-century. His captain, Dixieth Palmer, a former Jamaica, Police and schoolboy star at St Elizabeth Technical, chipped in with 18 as they ended on 151 for seven.

South Stars were rocked early as their top order looked clueless, especially to the bowling of seamer Clive Thomas, who then had figures of three runs for two wickets in three overs.

It looked over for the count for the Cross Keys-based Manchester team when they struggled in the ninth over to 24 before losing two batsmen on the same score, including their captain, Courtney Allen, bowled by a ball which kept depressingly low.

The rescue act by Broomfield and Walters seemed unpredictable, even as Palmer pulled Thomas from the bowling attack. But as they got going their confidence was boosted and their fans erupted in cheers. A few big hits by Broomfield catapulted the score to 70 by the 12th over, but the task still looked daunting with 82 needed from eight overs.

Dramatic swing in fortunes

There was a dramatic swing in fortunes in over No. 14 as Palmer dropped a return catch from a fierce drive by Broomfield. Two balls later, he was left further flabbergasted when he saw the outstretched hand of the umpire signaling no-ball when he shattered Walters' stumps.

Palmer brought back Thomas from the opposite end with 18 needed from two overs, but two consecutive sixes from Broomfield virtually settled the contest, before his young partner effortlessly secured a tame end, dispatching the second ball of the next over.