Flatts 117 Judging by the first 45 minutes of this Eastern Counties second round match at Lord's, it is hard to believe that champions St. David's won at all, let alone by a comfortable 131-run margin on Saturday.

In deep trouble at 22-5 after nine overs, the Islanders recovered to post a winning total of 248 before bowling Flatts out for 117 to record the first win in the competition since they claimed the cup back from Bailey's Bay in the 1997 final.

If Flatts were firmly in control after sending St. David's in on a damp wicket, the challengers lost that psychological edge after two big stands took the wind out of their sails. Well struck half centuries by number seven and number eight batsmen, Landro Minors and Sammy Robinson, turned this match around just when St. David's were fearing the worst.

Coming to the crease four minutes apart, the talented teenager and Somerset Cup Match discard set about repairing the damage with a sixth wicket stand of 113 in 42 overs and two hours and 47 minutes before and after lunch.

Minors, the stylish left-hander, was the first to his 50 and then the first to depart when he popped up a catch to Phillip Burgess at silly mid-on to finish on 56 which included seven fours.

Robinson went on to top score with 78 as he and the returning captain Clay Smith, hit in the face the second ball he faced when a delivery from Kevin Hurdle lifted off a good length, added a further 89 in 22 overs to post the 200. Smith fell to Burgess' fourth catch on his debut, hitting six fours in his 44 while Robinson was bowled by Quinn Outerbridge after hitting 11 fours.

"The ball was popping up, I got hit on my arm and a couple of times in my ribs and groin area,'' said vice captain Robinson afterwards.

"But I just had to tough it out and bat for the team. We were in trouble at the time but it got easier after lunch.

"I was telling him (Minors) that the longer we batted the easier it would get. It was important that we spent time at the wicket. He batted very well, I don't think he gave any chances and it shows he's got a good head on his shoulders.'' Outerbridge, the sixth bowler used by Flatts, finished with three for 22 from 3.3 overs of gentle medium pace. Derek Wright, who wasn't introduced until the 44th over, by which time Minors and Robinson had almost added 100 in their stand, broke that partnership in his fourth over to revive Flatts' hopes.

Before then they began to look short of bowling options, having used just four bowlers, of which three of them, Hurdle, Gary Brangman and Dwayne Leverock, had bowled 62 of the 67 overs between them.

Hurdle finished with three for 63 from 18 overs while Brangman toiled for 22 overs without success after removing Albert Steede in his second over.

Brangman finished with one for 57 from 24 overs with eight maidens, while Leverock was wicketless in 20 overs, giving away 53 runs.

Flatts never took up the challenge of scoring 7.54 runs an over for victory.

But it was not an impossible target, as similiar run rates were achieved by the St. George's Cup Match team in 1994 when they scored 237 runs in 34 overs, including at 8.75 runs an over in the last 20 overs. Somerset managed to pull off an unexpected victory in 1996 when Albert Steede led them to a thrilling victory over St. George's. That year Somerset scored 252 in 76 minutes plus the last 20 overs, which worked out to a total of 39 overs, including 145 in the last 20 overs.

With rules calling for 110 overs to be bowled for the day, and St. David's batting for 76.3 of those overs, it left Flatts to bat for only 33 overs after finally dismissing St. David's at 4.57.

And despite not having won the cup since 1980, Flatts never seemed interested attempting victory.

Their batting order, which had the big hitting Gladwin Edness batting at number six and the captain Leverock himself at five, supports that notion as Gershon Gibbons took plenty of time to score his 16 runs at number four.

Flatts managed only 11 runs in their first 11 overs -- by which time they had already lost three wickets -- forcing the run rate up to nine an over.

Leverock showed some aggression by smashing Herbie Bascome for three fours in his first over from the club end and knocking him out of the attack, but they were leaving it too late.

Leverock hit eight fours and a six in his 44 before edging a Bascome delivery to wicketkeeper Chris Foggo.

Edness managed just 11 before he, too, fell to Bascome while Gary Brangman was next highest scorer with 21 as wickets started to fall quickly -- the last four going down for just six runs as St. David's won with 3.2 overs remaining in the game.

Bascome finished with four for 36 from eight overs while Clay Smith, who came on as first change to allow Bascome and Dale Fox to switch ends and subsequently got a wicket in his first over, finished with two for 13 from five overs.

Del Hollis had two for 11 and Fox two for 46 as Flatts were dismissed in 29.4 overs.

Bascome blast: St David's guest player Herbie Bascome swings the ball away elegantly during his side's Eastern Counties triumph over Flatts. Bascome later starred with the ball, taking four wickets as Flatts faltered after being given a tough target to chase.