Wellington Oval (Somerset won the toss): Match between St George’s and Somerset was drawn.

Somerset tail-enders Micah Simons and Sheldon Caesar frustrated St George’s when they hung on for the last ten overs to salvage a draw for the champions in yesterday’s Colts Cup Match.

The ninth-wicket pair added just seven runs in that time for the ninth wicket as St George’s failed to claim the last two wickets and reclaim the cup.

They did make it interesting, though, after posting 158 in 39.1 overs and then having Somerset 56 for six at one point. Ultimately a seventh-wicket stand of 55 between Antonio Darrell and Kamel Easton, which lasted into the ninth over of the last 20, virtually saved the match for Somerset.

Darrell was high man for Somerset with 32, while Easton supported with 26 which included a six and a four. Easton departed when he was smartly caught low to the ground by Nzari Paynter at short midwicket off the bowling of his cousin Okera Bascome, who had just taken off his wicketkeeper’s gloves and claimed the wicket with his fifth delivery.

And when Darrell departed in the next over, bowled by spinner Jordan Smith, who was back for his second spell, St George’s had victory in their sights with ten overs to go.

“Our number seven, eight, nine and ten did a magnificent job, we were 56 for six at one point,” Michael Corday, the Somerset team manager, said. “Kamel Easton and Antonio Darrell and then Micah Simons and Sheldon Caesar saw it out.

“That was like a victory, St George’s were in command. I really enjoyed it, the team is maturing and in the past we would have crumbled and given in, but they just wouldn’t give it up and had to bat a long time to protect it. The game was competitive but played in good spirits, it was good to see.”

Smith, who took the new ball, led the bowling with three for 41 from 14 overs with three maidens while Cejay Outerbridge, the other opener, finished with impressive figures of one for 23 from 10 overs with four maidens.

The match did not start until 1.02pm after heavy overnight rain left the wicket damp. It was a good toss for Somerset to win, but they struggled after getting the breakthrough with just 29 on the board, opener Azende Furbert falling to a catch behind by Jahnoi Bean off Antonio Darrell.

New ball pair Simons and Caesar bowled eight tight overs between them, giving up just four runs, before Justin Donawa and then Darrell replaced them. Runs began to flow more freely after that as opening bat Keishun Smith and Jordan Smith added 39 for the second wicket, as both Donawa and Darrell were removed from the attack after going for 31 and 25 from four overs apiece.

The introduction of Justin Corday’s spin began to turn the tide for Somerset, as St Georges slumped from 100 for three to 129 for eight, before they added 23 for the ninth wicket.

Keishun Smith led the batting with 41 after being dropped on 20, while Bascome scored 25, hitting three fours and a six, while Shea Pitcher and Outerbridge scored 18 each, with the latter smashing two sixes at number eight.

Corday claimed five for 60 from eleven overs to lead the Somerset bowling, while Donawa enjoyed a better second spell, taking four wickets to finish with four for 31 off 8.1 overs.