Solid batting and poor bowling conspired to ensure the 2001 Cup Match ended in a draw, leaving Somerset to hold the cup for another year.

Led by the record breaking heroics of Janeiro Tucker, Somerset made it a match of misery for St. George's, particularly on the first day as they punished the home side for sending them in on a benign pitch, compiling a massive 430 first innings total, the third highest in Cup Match history.

The best moments for the challengers came during the opening hour, when they were able to remove opener Dexter Basden without scoring, with the total just five.

They also earned some success in the second hour, as two wickets fell at 81, with Kwame Tucker (32) and Wendell White (0) sent packing to the pavilion.

However, from there the battle was truly an uphill one, with the track flattening out and not offering nearly as much movement as during the opening moments. Add to that the inability of most St. George's bowlers to find proper line and length and the prospects became even more daunting.

At 81 for three Janeiro Tucker joined the much maligned Curtis Jackson (49) and the pair took the score to 122, when the latter was denied a much deserved half century, his half-hearted drive towards cover expertly caught by Glenn Blakeney. The dismissal of Jackson though brought out the real fireworks, with Tucker linking with captain Albert Steede, the pair adding a record 120 for the fifth wicket.

Tucker dominated the partnership, stroking balls to all corners, while Steede grafted in his anchor role and by the time Steede was given out by umpire Wilbur Pitcher to a questionable lbw decision, Somerset were well on their way at 242 for five.

Tucker and Richard Basden (32) further tormented with a 137-run sixth wicket stand punctuated by the former's surpassing Lloyd James' 173 not out for the highest individual score.

Tucker eventually fell for 186, but with Somerset's total at 379, the writing was already on the wall for a draw.

The west enders eventually declared at 430, allowing St. George's a little more than an hour to bat in the final session.

Dale Fox took four wickets in his return to the big stage, although Herbie Bascome was the best bowler, with two for 77 from 18.5 overs. David Adams chipped in with two for 81.

Somerset got an early breakthrough, dismissing colt Phillip (Billy Joe) Pitcher for four, with but eight runs on the board.

Yet that would be their only bowling success, as Blakeney showed his unrivalled class with the bat, attacking Somerset from the outset.

Blakeney continued the assault yesterday, notching his first Cup Match century, requiring just 90 balls to do so, as his 104 included 15 fours and three sixes.

Like Somerset, St. George's found batting much easier than bowling, with Herbie Bascome notching a half century, while Lionel Cann (47) and skipper Charlie Marshall (40) also had good knocks, as the east enders worked their way to 338 before declaring 92 runs behind.

Dwayne Leverock was the pick of the Somerset bowlers with four for 94, while Corey Hill weighed in with three wickets.

The result settled, Somerset merely went through the motions the second time up,with Janeiro Tucker again shining with the bat, his 69 marking the first time a batsman had scored a century and half century in the same match.

Cousin Kwame Tucker also came good for the second straight day with a well crafted 40, while Irving Romaine (28) and Leverock (20 not out), also got among the runs.