Challengers Somerset undermined their own Cup Match hopes by conceding a draw with champions St.George's reeling at 39 for four and 12 overs left to play in the match.

That was the verdict from St.George's star batsman Glenn Blakeney who believes the West Enders went about things in the wrong manner with victory seemingly theirs for the taking.

With the champions holding on for dear life, Blakeney said he was "shocked" when Somerset skipper Jacobi Robinson took his players off the field.

"That baffled me the most because Somerset had 12 overs left and agreed to end the game there when they only had six more wickets to get," Blakeney said. "I can recall one time playing for Bay (Bailey's Bay) when Stephen (Outerbridge) claimed four wickets with four balls."

Earlier this summer St.David's lost five wickets for one run in a Premier Division match against Southampton Rangers at Lords.

And had Somerset broken up a fifth-wicket stand between Charlie Marshall and Clay Smith, Blakeney believes the outcome of the match could have been entirely different.

"I think they (Somerset) went about it wrong because I felt St.George's couldn't get those runs and what they should've done was bring the field in around the bat to apply more pressure on the batsmen," he added.

"I think Somerset shot themselves in the foot by conceding a draw with so many overs left.

"I was sitting in the pavilion counting away the overs and then suddenly it was all over; Somerset's skipper (Robinson) had agreed to a draw and I was shocked."

Blakeney also feels the challengers should have declared their innings at 180 which would have given them an overall lead of 205 and afforded them additional time to bowl at the East Enders.

He also defended his team's defensive tactics in the latter stages of the match which saw veterans Marshall and Smith put up the shutters and nudge their way to safety.

"If you can't win, why lose the cup?" Blakeney stressed.

According to the stylish left handed batsman, the East Enders' initial plan was to come charging out of the blocks in pursuit of an outright win chasing 237 for victory in two hours and 20 overs.

But after losing early wickets the champions were forced to alter their plans.

"I always thought we had a chance of winning the match. I actually wanted to open the batting but they (team officials) wanted the four horsemen (Marshall, Smith, Lionel Cann and Blakeney) to come in the middle of the order," Blakeney explained. "I thought we should've broken up the two younger guys (Fiqre Crockwell and Jason Anderson) at the top of the order, but we had a game plan and had to stick by it.

"However, Somerset definitely altered our plan and put a lot of pressure on us and we had to go out there and sit up."

Despite losing four wickets in quick succession, Blakeney said he never doubted St.George's would lose their grip on the cup.

"I always knew our team was strong enough, we had bats going right down the line and it also wasn't a bad wicket at all. I never had any doubts in my mind we would lose the cup," he said.

By his own high standards Blakeney had a lean Cup Match with the bat, scoring ten runs in the first innings and then failing to get off the mark in the second.

"I was very disappointed not to get off (with the bat), but that's cricket sometimes and it doesn't always happen that way," he said.

The 35-year old cricketer also quashed rumours that this year's match was his last, as was the case with former St.David's team-mate Clay Smith who bowed out of the classic following last week's battle at Somerset Cricket Club.

"That (retirement) didn't come out of my mouth. I'm only 35 and still have a lot to offer, if I can keep myself fit," Blakeney said. "I don't know where that (rumour) came from.

"I know it wasn't from me."