'We were atrocious'

Rangers player/coach Janeiro Tucker made no excuses for his team’s crushing 169-run league loss to St David’s at home on Sunday.

The veteran all-rounder said the defending Premier 50 Over champion’s overall display was nothing short of “poor”.

“Our fielding and bowling were atrocious and when it came down to scoring over 300 runs — psychologically we were knocked out of it,” he lamented.

“We lost the game in the field where we gave away too many extras (39). It was just a poor display of cricket from the whole team’s perspective.”

The islanders hammered 319 for six in their allotted 50 overs and then mowed Rangers down for 150.

Delyone Borden (83) and wicketkeeper Ajuan Lamb (57) led the St David’s batting with polished half-centuries while seamer Justin Pitcher (three for 24) was the pick of the visitors’ bowling.

Asked to comment on St. David’s dominant display, Tucker replied: “They just did the basics right.”

Sunday’s humbling loss was the last thing Rangers’ title defence needed and Tucker said his players must do some soul searching if they are to bounce back against the same opposition at Lords on the weekend.

“The players have to put their hands up and admit where they went wrong, if not it could be like this all year. We just have to come with a better display on Sunday.”

St David’s all-rounder Sammy Robinson is confident the Islanders can repeat in front of the home crowd on the weekend.

But he has urged his teammates not to take their wounded rivals for granted.

He said: “Rangers have their pride and everybody knows they are going to want to pull one over us. But we know we have to bring it again and improve on our last performance.”