Article
Cup Match 2011 evenly poised
Posted: 2011-07-28
Somerset 97 and 39-1
St. George’s 188
After a dismal batting performance before lunch, Somerset battled back in the afternoon session at Wellington Oval to leave the 110th Cup Match evenly poised going into the second day.
The West Enders won the toss and decided to bat first on what proved to be a lively wicket and were soon regretting that decision as St. George’s, led by Justin Pitcher, pegged them back at 50-6 after one hour as the challengers made it easy for the champions with some rash strokes.
Somerset’s batsmen were approaching the match as if it was a 20/20 contest, perhaps trying to make up for the 14-minute delay at the start while pre-match introductions were carried out. Colt Damali Bell drew first blood when he had Dion Stovell caught by captain Oronde Bascome on the fifth ball of his first over, the second of the match. The score was 16 and when Stephen Outerbridge was enticed into a hook and gave Bell a catch at square leg the slide was on with only 17 on the board. Colt Terry Fray hit three fours in his 12 before he became Justin Pitcher’s second wicket.
Somerset knew it was going to be a long day for them when top batsman Janeiro Tucker was fourth out when the score was 45, edging to Rodney Trott at gully after scoring 11. Few batsmen looked willing to stay around long enough to get Somerset back in the match as further wickets fell on 50, 60, 63 and 82 before last pair Kevin Hurdle and Joshua Gilbert added a dogged 15 in trying to reach 100.
Pitcher led the St. George’s assault with five for 42 while Stefan Kelly, one of only three bowlers used by the holders, chipped in with four for 26 from 9.3 overs. Somerset were dismissed in 25.3 overs, 12 minutes before the scheduled lunch break which was taken early. Former captain Jacobi Robinson, whose batting approach suggested he was a hurry, was high man for Somerset with 17 while Deunte Darrell scored 16. Colt Kamau Leverock, coming in at number six, was also tempted into the hook by Pitcher and gave another catch to Bell at square leg.
St. George’s were led by Jason Anderson’s 52 as they tried to build a sizeable first innings lead which would have taken the match away from Somerset. Even after Anderson lost opening partner Bascome with just nine on the board, St. George’s batted with more discipline as Anderson added 32 with Fiqre Crockwell for the second wicket and 66 with OJ Pitcher for the third wicket as the 100 came up. But with Hurdle now back for a second spell, Somerset fought back, removing Anderson, Pitcher and Rodney Trott to put St. George’s in some trouble at 116-5. Lionel Cann scored a valuable 38 from six fours and a six to tilt the match back in St. George’s favour, before Janeiro Tucker turned destroyer with the ball, taking impressive figures of four for seven from 8.3 overs.
Tucker was the seventh bowler used by Somerset, not coming on the ball until St. George’s were 165-5. He removed Cann in his second and took three further wickets in his last two overs as the St. George’s lead was kept to 91. Hurdle matched Justin Pitcher’s performance with the ball, taking five for 38 from 11 overs.
Somerset suffered a setback in the St. George’s innings when Robinson fractured the little finger of his left hand when trying to hold onto a catch off Jason Anderson’s bat. Anderson was dropped twice on his way to 50 which came from six fours and two sixes.
Somerset, batting a second time at 6.33, recovered from the early loss again of Dion Stovell (again for one) and reached 39-1 at stumps with Terryn Fray looking comfortable on 31 and Stephen Outerbridge on seven not out.
The morning session could go a long way towards deciding the outcome with a victory still very much the more likely outcome. Somerset will rely on their big bats to carry them to something in the region of 300, thus setting St. George’s a challenging target on a wicket that is likely to become more difficult to bat on.
Enjoyed this post? Share it with others.
This article has been viewed 320 times.
