The emotions were as stark as day and night ? St. George's ecstatic beyond imagination and Somerset completely dumbstruck and disbelieving.

The East Enders' thrilling 27-run victory in another memorable Cup Match brought tears to Neil Paynter's cheeks and a stoic pout to his opposite number's lips.

And while Somerset president Colin Smith's lips remained sealed on the loss of the cup and other match-related scenarios, a joyous Paynter waxed poetic on a triumphant return to Wellington Oval.

"You don't know what this means to St. George's ? the club, the community and all the people that support us!

"This team has done a wonderful job. It's a total community effort. I love it. I don't know what else to say. This team represented the best of St. George's and that's what it's about," declared the bare-chested president of St. George's Cricket Club shortly after Gregg Foggo upended Kevin Hurdle's stumps to seal an unlikely success.

Another man openly crying, as the two-toned blue flags of St. George's danced across the pitch in celebration, was coach George Cannonier.

"I had faith in these guys I knew they could do it and we just kept at it. I don't know what to say.

"I told them 'This is our time. The best time to win this trophy is at home and we can't let it slip away' and it worked," he said regarding their defence of the small winning target of 121 runs.

The man for whom it was sweetest of all though was arguably skipper Herbie Bascome who was at the helm in 2000 when St. George's relinquished the trophy.

"The feeling is so great. It's beautiful. We had three colts who sent a message that they wanted it (the cup) as much as we guys who have been persevering over the years.

"It was all about hanging in. It was tough out there. There were times we felt it wasn't going to happen but we had the faith and it was that spirit that saw us through," said the jubilant captain whose late-order heroics with the bat gave St. George's just enough runs to trouble their rivals.

Bascome said that convening for a few seconds after each wicket and supporting one another were critical in the match's dying stages.

"The key was to come together and feel the support of each other every time a wicket fell. We had to stay focused on the vision that we had."

Asked how this ranked in his Cup Match files, the dreadlocked veteran admitted it was right up there with the best of his times.

"When I first came into Cup Match in 1997 we played on this ground, I got seven wickets and we won the game. I told these guys that there's something strange about Cup Match this year and I feel we could take it.

"It just closes the door that I came in through. It's over for me. This is it. This is my last Cup Match and it's an excellent way to bow out. I came in as a champion and I'm going out as a champion, having got back what I lost," declared the 41-year-old.

Hailing ace pacer George O'Brien jr ? who claimed a match haul of 11 wickets for 120 runs ? as a "match winner", Bascome said he urged the impressive colt to dig deeper on several occasions during the game.

"I told George to believe in himself and that he is capable of being a match winner. I told him he had to keep going even when he wanted to stop. I told him 'You got to go deeper, man, because you're the key'."

O'Brien himself remained modest about his performance despite all the accolades.

"I feel good. I was a little nervous at first but I overcame it and did what I had to do," said the soft-spoken bowler.

However, he confessed that he was not surprised at his sterling results, noting "they picked me to do that and that's what I've done".

The 20-year-old said he would like to move onto the international arena and dreams of representing Bermuda in the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

"I just need to continue training hard, putting in the work and I'll be there," he said, adding that he will be looking to improve his fitness and speed.

Two other bowlers who excelled were Jacobi Robinson and Kevin Hurdle, snapping up eight and seven wickets respectively. Of course, though, the Somerset duo would have preferred ? and certainly anticipated ? a different finish.

Robinson had a five-wicket haul in second innings and the Safe Hands Award for a brilliant catch to dismiss the dangerous Charlie Marshall yesterday as small comfort.

"That's the breaks. I worked hard today ? five wickets and a good catch. I thought my team was going to be victorious today but St. George's played a good game. We'll get 'em next year," he said, admitting the defeat was the worst he had ever felt about cricket.

Hurdle thanked the selectors for showing faith in him but was clearly dejected as he surveyed post-play festivities.

Somerset skipper Janeiro Tucker was far from pleased at surrendering the trophy ? especially with what he termed "the way it happened".

"St. George's got whatever they wanted. All the decisions went their way," he charged, alluding to some controversial umpiring.

In a diplomatic speech at the presentation ceremony, the batting maestro urged both teams "to be more positive" in their actions and told both sides that he respected them. Yet, asked about the volatile junctures of the game afterwards, he defended Somerset's players going onto the field in the highly-charged run out of Curtis Jackson on Thursday.

"Maybe both sides need to look at their actions but if my players are in danger on the field, I'm going out there no matter what," declared the national vice captain.

Others celebrating St. George's success were Lionel Cann and colt Stefan Kelly.

"All the hard work this season ? this is amazing. I'm overwhelmed. It's unbelievable. I could never ever have another season like this ? qualify for the World Cup, win Cup Match and league titles and everything," said Cann who had a baby daughter born earlier yesterday.

As for fast bowler Kelly, who shared a 34-run, ninth wicket partnership with skipper Herbie Bascome that made the difference between victory and defeat, it was a fabulous way to start his Cup Match career.

"It feels great. It's more than I could ask for in my first year playing. It was unbelievable out there," he said.