FOR the second consecutive year OJ Pitcher narrowly missed joining the elusive Cup Match century club.

Instead the St. George's vice-captain has achieved something no other batsman has managed, score two 90s in the annual classic¿and successive 90s at that. The century may have eluded him but few doubt he will get to triple figures one day. OJ's father Oliver, a former top batsman for St. David's in the Eastern Counties, watched from the sidelines with keen anticipation as his son raced past 50 and into the 90s before before being bowled by Kevin Hurdle six runs short of what would have been a deserved century. His 94, which came off 132 balls, contained some delightful strokes as he smashed 11 fours and two sixes. His two for 25 off seven overs makes him a strong favourite for a second Cup Match MVP award which will be announced soon.

And even though the St. David's youngster was well rewarded financially by the fans for his batting, the disappointment at missing the century mark will remain as the records will forever remind him of the two centuries he missed.

"I was a little disappointed and so was he," said Oliver Sr. speaking from Florida this week where he accompanied his son to college to register for fall classes. "I said to him, 'look, OJ, this is cricket and again it is another lesson in life where things can be going well but there are bumps in the road. It is how you pick yourself up and continue. You're young and you'll have plenty of opportunities to get that coveted century and it is just a matter of time'.

"To me he always looked to be in control and one thing I would always say about OJ is that he seems to be a person who maintains his cool and calm and I attribute that to him playing golf. As you know he was a very active golfer in his younger days and won the Bermuda Atlantic Open at the age of 16 and it is a sport that calls for concentration and where you have to block out everything else.

"I think he applies that principal when he plays cricket and is batting. On the ball that he got bowled out on I asked him what had happened and he said the ball moved on him and was a good ball and it wasn't that he was trying to finish the innings off with a six and hustle off the field. It was just one of those things. He was a bit disappointed but he says there is always another year."

The innings will go a long way towards cementing Pitcher's spot in the team for years to come. When veterans Charlie Marshall and Clay Smith retire, Pitcher will play a pivotal role in the middle order. As they say in St. David's he is an 'old war horse'.

"I'm sure Bermuda saw OJ's maturity when he was up against world-class players. When we played in the 20/20 Tournament he hung around a bit and in the World Cup he hung around," said his father. "He doesn't have fear, he's very confident and like I said to others you can see the maturity and the confidence. It is something you see with Clay and Charlie, confident guys in what they are doing and they have belief in themselves go out there and apply themselves."

Pitcher's father isn't taking it for granted that OJ will be a future Cup Match captain. He has been vice captain twice now and could be the eventual successor to Lionel Cann, his St. David's teammate.

"I think that might be in the back of St. George's minds but he'll just take that as it come," said Oliver Sr. "I'm sure he'll deal with that as the situation arises. Right now he just wants to play cricket and loves cricket."

OJ is due back today, just in time for the next St. David's league match this Sunday against league champions Southampton Rangers. Next weekend Pitcher should also be in the St. David's team for the second round of the Eastern Counties against Cleveland, though he will be back in school when the final against Flatts is played on September 1.

"He starts classes on the 27th of August and if St. David's get through to the final round I don't know if he will be able to play or not, I guess that depends on the people who really want him there," said his father.

Pitcher will go back to school a few dollars richer as a result of his Cup Match knock. St. George's manager Barry Sousa collected two bags of money and secured it for OJ after the crowd made donations following his 50. And as is custom in Cup Match, the money collected for the century was still donated to the batsman. Sousa never counted the money but estimates it was in the hundreds, with people giving even after he was dismissed.

"He felt he should have got the hundred," said Sousa. "He was under orders to push along, we had given him another 10 or 15 minutes to try to get his hundred and he knew that. We wanted to declare so he was pushing a bit and was very disappointed when he came into the changing room. He sat down in the corner and held his head."

Sousa has no doubts Pitcher will make a big impression in Cup Match, even one day going on to captain the team. "Lionel said at the presentation that they call Janeiro Tucker 'Mr. Cup Match', but that one day OJ Pitcher will be 'Mr. Cup Match'," said Sousa. "I foresee him being a future captain¿that's my opinion."

For the foreseeable future, the nucleus of the St. George's Cup Match team will be St. David's players. This year there were six in all, four of them the sons of former top St. David's players ¿ OJ, first cousin Arthur Jr. (son of Arthur Pitcher), Delyone Borden (son of the late Delby Borden) and Safe Hands award winner Chris Foggo, the son of Vernon Foggo.

Action resumes this weekend in the 50 overs league with Premier Division leaders Social Club continuing their push for a first title when they travel to St. John's field to meet Western Stars. Rangers entertain a St. David's team missing Lionel Cann, Arthur Pitcher and George O'Brien who are on international duty while Flatts take on Somerset at St. David's.

In the First Division, PHC meet Bailey's Bay at White Hill, Leg Trappers host Warwick at Sea Breeze Oval, Devonshire Rec meet Somerset Bridge and Willow Cuts are at home to Police at Somerset.