With successive boundaries off the bowling of Greg Maybury, the Somerset swing bowler, St George’s batsman OJ Pitcher fulfilled a promise to his late mother, Roseann, who passed away nearly three years ago from illness.

Those two boundaries carried Pitcher to a maiden Cup Match century — a feat he had twice come close to achieving, only to be dismissed in the nervous nineties.

But on this occasion, the elegant early-order bat would not be denied, thus fulfilling a promise that he made to his mother on her deathbed.

“The last words my mom said to me before she passed was ‘Get that hundred in Cup Match’ and that meant a lot and stuck with me,” Pitcher said. “It was a big relief to get the hundred and after I got it, I looked to the heavens and gave thanks to God for supporting me and making the dream come true.”

Pitcher’s father, Oliver Sr, struggled to hold back the tears after watching his son live up to his promise.

“OJ told me earlier in the week he is going to make a century this year,” he said. “He said, ‘I am going to fulfil mother’s request on her dying bed.’ She said to OJ, ‘I want you make me a century in Cup Match.’

“I was really happy for him and pleased. He felt confident leading up to it and I am just ecstatic. And even though he had the chances, I say that’s the game and he made the most of it.”

Pitcher’s century arrived in 210 minutes off 136 balls.

In 2006, he was dismissed for 98 at Somerset and the next year for 94 at Wellington Oval.

“I must admit when I got in the nineties, I did have a little bit of a flashback and got nervous, but things worked out,” Pitcher said. “I hung in there and batted well.”

Pitcher was dropped by Jacobi Robinson on 18 and put down again by Janeiro Tucker when on 50.

Those chances came back to haunt Somerset, as Pitcher proved to be the mainstay of St George’s challenging total of 274 for seven declared.

“I got a few lives, yes, but you’ve got to take advantage of them,” Pitcher said. “If you get chances, the thing is to go on because that’s cricket. And it’s good to finally get chances because usually I am out first chance I give.

“It was a very important innings. I would not say we were in a spot of bother, but we were losing wickets at crucial times. I had to hang in and bat as long as possible, and if the ball came in my zone, be positive about it.”