A conscious decision to relinquish the captaincy of St.David?s? senior cricket team seems to be paying dividends for 24-year-old Islanders all rounder Arthur Pitcher jr.

In two visits to the crease over the weekend Pitcher remained unbeaten, scoring 42 against Bailey?s Bay in Saturday?s first round of the Eastern Counties and 54 against Social Club the next day in Premier Division play.

For added measure, Pitcher also claimed four wickets for 19 runs to help restrict the big bats of Bay and lay the groundwork for his team?s inspiring Counties win.

?I?ve had a rough season as far as the beginning is concerned. I was captain of the team but felt that was affecting my game immensely,? Pitcher told

?So in order to better my game I thought it best to step down and let Sammy Robinson take over the team, and things seem to be working out okay.?

As for his team?s five-wicket win over Bay, Pitcher noted: ?We always have the players to back us . . . no matter who goes out there.?

Pitcher was alluding to the Islanders? makeshift team built around 56-year-old all-rounder George Cannonier, 48-year-old batsman Allen Richardson and Bermuda?s veteran national team skipper Clay Smith.

?We are St.David?s . . . the best cricketers in Bermuda and we proved it today (Saturday),? he added.

Following his aggressive 30-ball innings on Saturday, Pitcher admitted: ?I had the jitters the whole game to be honest. But I was taught how to put those things behind you and just stay focused ? which to me is the most important thing about cricket.?

Pitcher is currently bidding to join St.David?s team-mates George O?Brien jr, Lionel Cann, Delyone Borden and Chris Foggo in St.George?s? Cup Match team this summer.

And performances such as last weekend?s can only enhance his chances of convincing the selectors he has the right tools to get the job done.

?I think it really helps,? Pitcher smiled. ?But if I can continue to play consistently and within myself, then I think I will be okay.?

Pitcher will have one last opportunity to prove himself worthy of a spot in St.George?s Cup Match XI when the champions hold their final trial match at Wellington Oval this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Pitcher?s St.David?s team-mate and last year?s Cup Match MVP, Chris Foggo, also seems to be peaking at the right time.

Foggo has kept tidily behind the stumps this season, but has been inconsistent with the bat opening the Islanders? innings.

However, Foggo, son of former top Islander?s batsmen Vernon Foggo, belted 76 runs in St.David?s three-wicket league win over Social Club to serve notice that he doesn?t intend to give up his Cup Match spot without a fight.

Foggo has also not been active on the international front since representing Bermuda at last year?s ICC Intercontinental Cup in Toronto where he opened the innings along with Daniel Morgan and Graham Strange.