Somerset Cricket Club (Somerset won toss): Somerset beat St George’s by 68 runs

In what Somerset would hope to stand as a precursor to the midsummer classic and St George’s would like dismissed as a bad dream, the former dominated this clash of Cup Match rivals at Somerset Cricket Club.

Not even the awaited return of the Bascome pair of Onias and father Herbie could halt a league losing streak that now stands at four matches for the east-enders, who appear a pale shadow of their once-dominant selves.

In contrast, Somerset appear to be making confident strides forward after an inauspicious start, avoiding any letdown in momentum after dismantling Southampton Rangers a week previous by producing another solid all-round team performance.

Winning the toss captain, Jekon Edness chose to bat and his top order was adequate if not spectacular in response.

Pierre Smith and Donnico Hollis gave the home team a half-century partnership to get matters rolling, forcing the St George’s bowlers to toil hard for a mere modicum of success. Hollis was the more aggressive as attested by his seven boundaries within 36 runs before he became the first to return to the pavilion, bowled going for even more runs.

However the respite was brief for the visiting side, as Joshua Gilbert joined Smith in the middle and they continued to move the score, adding 33 for the second wicket before Smith was undone by Machai Simmons after making 30.

Nevertheless, this merely set the stage for another productive partnership as Edness came in and he and Gilbert added another half-century between them, moving the score to 146 before Gilbert perished for an individual contribution of 37.

Edness went soon after for 29 and former captain Jacobi Robinson contributed a mere two before he was out to Paynter. This mini-collapse proved to be another false glimmer of hope for St George’s as Jordan DeSilva, last week’s hero, came good again, muscling his way to 31 with three boundaries and a six before being undone by the combined efforts of the Bascomes — Herbie catching to Onias’s bowling.

Kwasi James likewise struck for three fours and a six in his unbeaten knock of 35 as Somerset would ultimately settle at 232 for nine from 50 overs.

Conversely, as has been their tale of woe, St Georges lost wickets early and often, with Sinclair Gibbons standing as a lone beacon on a desolate landscape. Opening the innings, Gibbons held his end for 45, while carnage reigned around him.

Somerset’s success was briefly interrupted as Gibbons and Charles Marshall Jr put on 52 for the fifth wicket, but St George’s never truly appeared threatening.

Marshall eventually went for 27, with Zion Smith next high scorer on 22.

Four Somerset bowlers shared in the wickets haul, with James and Gilbert accounting for three apiece and Christian Gibbons and DeSilva claiming two each.