Somerset CC 45 for one

Cup Match champions St.George’s failed to capitalize on their chances in the field during a rain hit first session that saw one hour and 50 minutes lost to rain.

Somerset, hosts for this year’s classic, showed good intent by winning the toss and electing to take first strike in the hopes of applying early pressure on their rivals.

Their ploy, however, nearly backfired and had it not been for sloppy fielding they could’ve easily headed into the break three man down.

Colt Chris Douglas has so far been the main beneficiary of St.George’s’

generosity as he was put down twice off the bowling of Steede but has managed to regain his poise to remain unbeaten on 33 at lunch.

Douglas was first spilled at second slip by Clay Smith in the third over and then escaped again unpunished three overs later when St.George's skipper Lionel Cann put down a difficult one handed grab in the deep.

Apart from the odd swipe and a few deliveries from off break spinner Delyone Borden that has beaten the bat, Douglas looks in good touch at the crease, particularly playing the ball of the pads through the legside.

Douglas and Dion Stovell (five) added 25 for the first wicket before Steede made the breakthrough 23 minutes before the interval when he induced a thick edge off the latter’s bat and comfortably held by veteran Charlie Marshal at first slip.

Stovell never looked settled in the middle and rather than play himself in he opted for route one and lost the battle against Steede.

Steede was unfortunate not to go to lunch in better spirits after watching two chances go begging and the six no balls he has bowled so far wouldn’t have done the bowler’s confidence any good either.

Douglas and Warwick team-mate Sammy Robinson (two) have so far added 22 runs for the second wicket but Somerset’s run rate has been reduced to trickle with Borden and leg spinner Tre Govia, one of five colts in the match, looking in ominous form with the ball.