Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, has urged his players to build on their stunning six-run victory over previously unbeaten Logic Premier champions St David’s at Somerset Cricket Club at the weekend.

Half-centuries from Jekon Edness, the captain, and Jacobi Robinson propelled the hosts to 226 for seven in their 50 overs.

Somerset then dismissed St David’s in the last over of their innings with left-arm seam bowler Jordan DeSilva leading the charge with three for 38. It was a fine all-round display that drew praise from coach Richardson.

“It was probably our best performance of the season so far,” Richardson said. “They showed a lot of team harmony.

“There were some dropped catches and one or two missed run outs. But other than that they rallied together and saw it through to the end.

“We had determined at the beginning of the match that St David’s have not had to chase a decent score practically all season.

“We knew if we posted anything upwards of 200 then we were in with a chance.”

Somerset were forced to sweat it out as St David’s’ tall batting order chipped away at their target.

But clinical bowling at the death by seam pair DeSilva and Greg Maybury saw the hosts defend their total and clinch an inspiring win.

“I knew the game was going to be close,” Richardson said. “St David’s were in with a chance but they were losing wickets. We saved Jordan and Greg for the final overs, so it was on them to put the ball in the right areas and for the most part they did. It was just a matter of putting the ball in that area of uncertainty and they did.”

Richardson said that his team’s stunning victory did not come as much of a surprise to him.

“It doesn’t come as a surprise to me because I work with the guys on a weekly basis in training and I know what they are capable of,” he said. “One of the things I have been trying is to get them to believe in themselves and get to some level of consistency. If we can maintain a level of consistency then we will be a team to be reckoned with.”

Somerset’s thrilling victory arrived on the back of a humbling away defeat against Bailey’s Bay in which they were dismissed for 56 runs.

“Our batting has been letting us down for the most part of the season,” Richardson said. “But, when we have managed to bat well, we have been a difficult team to beat. We are as good a bowling team as any other on the Island at the moment while our fielding for the most part is pretty good.

“We are probably the youngest team in the Premier Division with Jekon Edness being the oldest at 31. We have ages that range down to 16 and the experience these players received on Sunday is going to go a long way in their development toward becoming a stronger team.”