Wellington Oval: (St. George’s won the toss): St. George’s beat Somerset by 79 runs

It may not have been Cup Match but St George’s avenged this year’s annual Classic with a comfortable 79-run win over their west end rivals Somerset yesterday thanks in part to some bruising half centuries from captain Onais Bascome and Macai Simmons.

St. George’s set a respectable target early as the to- order batsmen showed no mercy to the opposition’s bowling. The top four batters scored 161 runs between them with replacement balls coming and going to set up a massive total of 190, including 15 fours and 11 sixes.

Bascome and Simmons both scored 57 and were handsomely assisted early by opener Allan Douglas with 14 runs and Treadwell Gibbons with 33 not out, with the batters particularly brutal against spinner Chris Douglas who gave up 20 runs in his only over.

Sheldon Caesar was the pick of the Somerset bowlers with figures of one wicket for 13 runs from his two overs.

In defence of their huge total, St. George’s got off to a contentious start with Zeko Burgess bowling two full tosses which were considered to be dangerous in his first over. and as a result he was suspended from bowling for the rest of the game.

Despite losing Burgess, the other bowlers restricted Somerset to 57 for four at the halfway stage with Burgess making amends when he caught dangerman Chris Douglas near the fly slip area with a beautiful diving catch which left the batter stunned.

Dominic Sabir wielded his bat with some urgency when the required run rate reached double figures. He scored a team high 32, from 22 balls, and hit three fours and the only six in the Somerset innings before he was stumped by wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith to claim the second of captain Bascome’s two scalps.

Somerset captain Justin DeSilva was the last recognised batsman to fall for ten as St George’s used a total of nine bowlers to wipe up the tailend and dismiss them for 111 in 19.2 overs.

Jabari Darrell claimed three wickets for 27 runs while captain Bascome and Nzari Paynter claimed two wickets apiece for 18 and one run respectively to lead the charge and keep St. George’s undefeated.

“It was a good overall performance today with Macai and myself getting half centuries,” captain Bascome said. “I also came on the ball and got two wickets at a crucial time with one of them being Dominic, so I had a good overall performance today.”