The 2000 Bermuda cricket season ended on an anti-climatic note as the knockout competition failed to produce a finalist due to inclement weather on consecutive weekends.

Waiting in the wings were Western Stars Sports Club, who produced a domestic record 23 straight victories with 4 trophies to boot. Having defended the Central Counties Cup and Champions of Champions trophy, Stars also collected the two trophies that had eluded them in the 1999 campaign - the Camel Cup and the most prized piece of hardware - the League Championship trophy.

Deposed league champions, Southampton Rangers may have had a say in Stars' unbeaten aspirations but rain twice ruined their knockout semifinal against Bailey's Bay, who went trophy-less for the second straight year. Although beaten by Stars three times this season, the boys from "Southside" pushed Stars to the brink on every occasion including an epic Champion of Champions final at the small confines of Devonshire Recreation Club. Stars (244-8) hung on to win by 22 runs as massive sixes hit in the run chase delighted the large crowd on hand.

Player-coach Clevie Wade almost pulling off a famous victory but was a foot short of recording a third straight six off fellow veteran Arnold Manders as teammate Justin Robinson coolly took the catch to the great relief of Stars and their anxious supporters.

As for the other pre-season title favourites St. David's, captain Clay Smith's coup of signing the magnificent batsman Glenn Blakeney away from Bailey's Bay, backfired as they came home a distant second. Blakeney's two centuries, three half-centuries and 59.54 average was not enough to take the Islanders over the top. However, with a 2001 Camel Cup spot secured, they will have an early chance to add to their Eastern Counties dominance. Bay did not live up to their usual standards having missed out on next year's Camel Cup by placing an uncharacterically low sixth place just behind an improved Cleveland County.

The Western County trophy did a lot of traveling in 2000, having seen the trophy cabinets of PHC, Warwick, Somerset Bridge and eventual champions, Southampton Rangers. The competition featured coloured clothes and interval entertainment as the committee successfully attempted to put in the background the fiasco of 1999 when there was no final due to confusion regarding player ineligibility.

Speaking of traveling, the Cup Match trophy traveled the length of the island from St. George's in the east to the west-end - and stayed. Somerset Cricket Club winning the 99th cricket showpiece by six wickets with plenty of light remaining on the second day. The former champions unable to overcome six changes made to their 1999 team.

With a new national coach, the Barbadian-born former England Test player Roland Butcher, Bermuda has set it's sights firmly on World Cup qualification at next year's ICC Trophy competition in Canada. Butcher's attendance with the national squad in the Leeward Islands next week for the Red Stripe Bowl, primarily ceremonial, as his appointment to the top post only recently being confirmed.

But the 2000 season will be remembered for the amazing accomplishments of Western Stars Sports Club - "The Unbeatables". A perfect season.

BERMUDA SEASON 2000 STATISTICS AND HONOURS

Batting Average: Albert Steede (Western Stars) 71.00
Most Runs: Albert Steede (Western Stars) 1278
Highest Score: Keith Wainwright (Southampton Rangers) 225*
Bowling Average: Courtney Trott (Cleveland) 12.10
Most Wickets: Herbie Bascome (St. George's) 46
Best Bowling: Ryan Belboda (Southampton Rangers) vs Social Club 6-15
Most Dismissals (Wicketkeepers): Dean Minors (St. George's) 22
Most Catches (Non-Wicketkeepers): Justin Robinson (Western Stars) 19

Premier League Champions: Western Stars Sports Club
Champion of Champions: Western Stars Sports Club
Camel Cup Champions: Western Stars Sports Club
Knockout Champions (Defending): Western Stars Sports Club
Central Counties Champions: Western Stars Sports Club
Eastern Counties Champions: St. David's County Cricket Club
Western Counties Champions: Southampton Rangers Sports Club
Cup Match Champions: Somerset Cricket Club

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