plan that began last Wednesday night at the team's hotel.

And everything fell into place, including an unexpected heavy shower that ended the first day a half hour early with the west enders holding a 21-run lead in the first innings.

"No doubt that (victory) was our plan,'' said star batsman Albert Steede, whose century paved the way for one of the most exciting finishes to a Cup Match as Somerset won by three wickets with two balls to spare.

"We talked about it on the Wednesday evening at Willowbank when we were all talking strategy. We didn't get to the field and draw a blank. Every person knew their job and their expectations.

"Being together helped us tremendously because it was a team effort.'' There were a number of factors that worked out in Somerset's favour, even the early finish on the first day as a heavy downpour dampened the wicket.

The next day, with St. George's sent back in, paceman Roger Blades exploited the conditions, sending batsmen Glenn Smith and Eugene Foggo to hospital with head injuries.

"It (rain) worked to our advantage,'' said Steede. "We were already 20 runs ahead and it was a blessing in disguise because then the wicket was a bit moist and the next day when they rolled the wicket it was a bit faster.

"As you could see Roger Blades was a few yards quicker and when those guys were hit they were beaten by pace.'' Other contributing factors to the Somerset win were the additional time added to each day, the size of the field and the defensive tactics by St.

George's which backfired.

Somerset were hoping to dismiss their opponents a second time by 4 p.m. on the second day. And though their own innings didn't start until 5.14, Steede and opening partner Treadwell Gibbons kept them in the hunt for victory with an opening stand of 119.

"We set ourselves between 100 and 130 runs before the allotted 20 overs and we said we would lose between one and two wickets but it worked out where we didn't lose any wickets, so that was a bonus,'' said Steede.

The defensive field placings by St. George's made it easier for Somerset who started out picking up the singles.

"It was a very defensive field and we didn't have to worry about anybody under the bat or in catching positions,'' Steede explained. "We said we would get six runs an over.'' Steede, who had been on the field almost the whole day, was boosted by the contributions of Corey Hill and Roger Blades after the team slumped from 119-1 to 145-4.

"Corey came in and said `thanks for coming' as if to say I'm taking over, while Blades told me we wouldn't be doing much running,'' said Steede. Both players hit three sixes, with Hill smashing three in succession off spinner Adams to ease the pressure.

Having fallen short of a century last year, Steede made up for that with his first ton, though he had little time to think about it as victory preoccupied his thoughts.

"I think when I was on 96, 97, that's when I started to think century but I couldn't dwell on it because the overs were running down,'' he explained.

"At one stage we were (facing) nine or 10 runs an over so I didn't want to be too cautious to get a century and set our team back.

"I felt a bit tired at 6 p.m. and when (Hill and Blades) came in and hit a few boundaries that made it much easier for me because I could go back to my normal game, being correct, getting the single and giving them the strike.

"They came in and played their role and that goes to show that everybody was focussed.'' It seems St. George's were guilty of becoming a bit overconfident. "They thought in their minds they couldn't be bowled out twice and I'm glad they thought that because they got complacent and lackadaisical,'' Steede stated.

When he was batting with Andre Manders in the penultimate over, an offer came from the umpires to go off for bad light.

"When the umpires offered bad light, as a joke I said `let me think about it' but the spectators and the team would have killed us,'' Steede acknowledged.

Steede was also involved in an incident with Charlie Marshall after the bowler was obstructed in a run out attempt by Steede. "We were running and Charlie bumped me and I went into the ball which hit my legs,'' said Steede who said it was not intentional.

The incident came at a critical stage and words were exchanged between the players before order was restored by the umpires.

"There was a lot of talking going on and I think the umpires did well to get the incidents under control quickly,'' said Steede.

The victory has brought the community together which was evident when they marched the cup later that night to Watford Bridge.

"This is good not just for cricket but also the community as a whole,'' he said.