Somerset’s first victory in St George’s in decades owes no small part to the superb all-round exploits of Derrick Brangman.

The Somerset all-rounder took five for 47 with his left-arm spin, held three catches to cop the Safe Hands Award and struck an unbeaten 34 in a last-wicket stand with Greg Maybury, that proved crucial in the champions’ first win at Wellington Oval since 1981.

“It really feels good to know that I played a part of Somerset’s first win in St George’s in all those years,” said Brangman, who is a strong candidate for the man-of-the-match award.

“To be honest, words really cannot explain it.

“I’m really glad to be part of this Somerset team. All of the players have been around for years and really know each on and off the field.”

Brangman, the son of Southampton Rangers coach and former batsman Ricky Brangman, went into this year’s Cup Match with a point to prove.

“I wanted to show people that I deserve to be there,” last season’s Logic Premier League MVP said. “I had to perform because I have been there four years now and really hadn’t done much if you read from my stats.”

Brangman’s last-wicket stand of 34 with Maybury enabled Somerset to carve out a 41-run first-innings lead.

“I really feel that partnership helped the team as it gave us a lead and put the pressure on St George’s a bit more,” Brangman said. “St George’s were trying to bowl bouncers and I wasn’t going to hit them at first. But every time they did I went after them and made sure we got runs and even if I just got a single it kept adding up.”

Brangman earned the Safe Hands Award for a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Christian Burgess, the St George’s wicketkeeper, at long on off the bowling of Malachi Jones in the second innings.

“I actually slipped and as I was going down I just dove forward and took the catch,” Brangman said.

Brangman’s bowling was also a major factor in Somerset’s eight-wicket victory, especially in the second innings when he produced a two-wicket maiden in his first over to break the back of the St George’s innings.

The left-arm spinner bowled Fiqre Crockwell with his first delivery and then had Damali Bell caught with his fourth.

“That was really surprising, my first over, because I didn’t expect the batsmen to go at me like that,” Brangman said.

“It was kind of shocking to see Fiqre go after my first ball like that.

“Then Damali came in and I bowled two good ones and then a loose one he would normally leave alone but he slashed at it and got out.

“It was a really special Cup Match and I am just glad to have been a part of it.”