With his team having their backs against the wall at the end of day one in Cup Match, St George’s coach Clay Smith has given up on hopes of beating Somerset.

Smith, whose side sought to make use of morning conditions when they won the toss and put Somerset in to bat, started brightly when Zeko Burgess removed Chris Douglas in the fifth over.

Howver, they were unable to build on that early momentum as they let their opponents occupy the crease for 94.2 overs on their way to scoring 404, with their task not helped by losing opener Treadwell Gibbons Jr in the only over they faced before the close of play.

A draw means Somerset will retain the trophy that has been in their possession since 2012, and it seems Smith has already made peace with that.

“There was some moisture around early in the morning and we wanted to get what we could out of the wicket,’’ Smith said.

“I thought we got off to a decent start and we won the first hour. We also had a half chance with Dion [Stovell] on zero for a run out, and we missed it. That could have put us in good stead and these are opportunities that you can’t miss at this level.

“I am not happy. I play the game to win, not just to play. It’s a learning experience for all of us, the coaches, myself, my captain and my whole team. We always knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task, and we just have to continue to push on.

“Right now it’s just about survival and batting for as long as possible, there is no other plan. It’s almost impossible to win from this predicament, so we’re just going out to make a good account of ourselves.

“We weren't able to bowl them out early enough today, so winning is off. We need a miracle to pull it off.”

Fast bowler Zeko Burgess, who picked up four wickets, the same number as off spinner Allan Douglas Jr, agrees with his coach.

“Four wickets is always a big thing and I wish I’d got five, but at the end of the day we are just trying to manage this game now,’’ Burgess said.

“It was always a plan to bowl them out pretty early, but obviously the batsmen stuck in and Dion Stovell got a missed run out, so that’s what we fell to. We have to pick it up tomorrow if we do go back in the field, but right now it’s all about saving this game.

“Right now the game is in the balance of a draw and obviously we would love to have more days to go after this, but two days trying to chase over 400, that’s a tough task, so tomorrow we go in with a batting mindset, stick to the wicket and just manage this game.”