Delray Rawlins did not hold back on his return to Cup Match as he took the fight to Somerset with brilliantly executed half centuries for St George’s.

While his run-a-ball 78 in the first innings and his brutal knock of 73, off 31, were not enough for St George’s to wrestle the trophy away from Somerset, Rawlins ensured his team left with a draw and provided huge entertainment.

Rawlins went on the rampage in the seconds innings as, together with Macai Simmons, he tore apart the Somerset bowling. He smashed 15 runs from a Derrick Brangman over, struck a six off the same bowler to reach his half-century, and followed that with yet another maximum shortly after to get fifty.

“It was nice and some stuff you can forget, so to experience it again was a good feeling,’’ Rawlins said.

“We put on a pretty good show and hopefully we can start getting things right and get back to challenging for the cup. We’re obviously disappointed to not get the cup back, but that’s how it goes. Somerset put on a good display and we come back and try again next year.

“I just tried to enjoy myself and, for first time in a little while, that was a pretty good wicket as it showed in the end. It was a good event for everyone, family and everybody here to watch some good cricket.

“When I was dismissed in the first innings, I thought there was a lot of time left in the game and I never thought we’d lose. It was about showing character and showing your skill. We were just having fun and it was a big crowd here, so we had to entertain as players.”

St George’s coach Clay Smith had mixed emotions at the end of the match.

“Obviously there is sadness and there is also joy,’’ Smith said.

“Sadness because our priority was to try and win the cup, and we didn't accomplish our goal, but on the flip side of it we finished the game showing a lot of character, and showing our fans something to cheer for.

“I told my players we have to use this as a springboard to go back into next year’s Cup Match and continue to build from here.

“For us to beat Somerset it’s going to take a complete game and we have to bat well, bowl well and field well.

“This game is about small, little differences. On day one, we won the first hour and in the second hour we had a chance to run out Dion Stovell on nought, and we didn't execute our fielding.

“Had we got Dion Stovell, it could have been a whole different ball game. At this level, every little mistake that you make can be very crucial and that was the mistake that cost us dearly.

“We showed a lot of character on day two. Our backs were up against the wall, Somerset came out and we batted extremely well. We wanted to entertain and we could have sat there and just batted out for a draw, but we wanted to entertain the crowd and give them something to cheer for.”

There seemed to be confusion after Rawlins reached his second half-century, as the match appeared to have ended, but play resumed.

“The umpire was saying he got word that the game was going to end in that over,’’ Smith said.

“I don’t know who gave them that message, but I know myself and my captain, both of us did not agree with it. The game cannot end unless captain and coach from both teams agree. We definitely did not agree, so wherever that message came from, that was the wrong message.

“We wanted to play on because there was a lot of cricket left, the people were here at St George’s. They wanted to see cricket and we wanted to entertain them.”