One way or the other, Janeiro Tucker always makes his presence felt during Cup Match.

And this year proved to be no exception as the Somerset all-rounder produced some outstanding fielding over the two days to earn an unprecedented third Safe Hands Award.

Five catches at Somerset Cricket Club — three in the first innings and two in the second — catapulted Tucker to the top of the all-time list of catches in the Annual Classic.

He grabbed a record 26th catch after Oronde Bascome, the St George’s captain, offered a low return catch just moments before lunch on the second day.

Tucker entered the match with one catch fewer than his father, John, and four less than Amon Hunt and Charles Marshall, the previous joint record-holders.

Not surprisingly, Tucker, Cup Match’s most prolific batsmen, took his superlative effort in the field in stride after an emphatic eight-wicket victory, insisting that establishing yet another record was the farthest thing on his mind heading into the match.

“I was not worrying about any record,” he said. “I was more concerned about winning the game because it’s about winning the game and not setting records. I just wanted to make sure we got the win.”

Tucker won the inaugural Safe Hands Award in 1998. The middle order batsman did not add to his Cup Match run aggregate this year after failing to get off the mark in Somerset’s first innings. Tucker was out leg-before first ball to George O’Brien, having been trapped in front by late swing.

“I thought it was a hard out, but you have to respect the umpire’s decision,” Tucker said. “He gave me out and I had to respect his decision and move on and try and help the team win.”

As well as producing some exceptional fielding, Tucker shone with the ball, claiming match figures of three for 56.

All three of Tucker’s scalps were snared in the St George’s second innings.

Somerset’s decision to bring Tucker into the attack at the start of the fourteenth over went a long way towards turning the tide in their favour, as he and the recalled Jordan DeSilva put the brakes on St George’s at a crucial stage of the match.

“We were giving away runs bowling to both sides of the wicket, so we brought on Jordan and Janeiro who were the most difficult bowlers and they were able to stem the tide a bit,” Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, said. “They lost a few quick wickets and all of a sudden they were under pressure because they knew they had to score quickly in order to have time to bowl us out.”

St George’s declared their second innings at 200 for nine, leaving Somerset with a victory target of 237 in three hours and 20 overs.

Somerset recorded a second win in three years after reaching their target with plenty of wickets in hand and overs to spare.

Leading the run chase was Terryn Fray, who struck an unbeaten 121.