OJ Pitcher, the St George’s captain, breathed a sigh of relief after the challengers snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.

With Somerset moving in for the kill and St George’s holding on for dear life, tail-enders Stefan Kelly and Justin Pitcher hung around just long enough to leave the champions insufficient time to chase down their target after being dismissed in their second innings.

Last pair Kelly and Pitcher, a cousin of the St George’s captain, added 22 runs for the tenth wicket but more importantly gobbled up just enough overs to ensure that Somerset would not bat a second time.

“You have to give credit to Stefan and Justin because they came in and done a job for the team,” Pitcher said. “They hung around for five or six overs which done a world of good for us.”

At one stage it seemed imminent that the two captains would get together and concede a draw after the final 20 overs came into play at 6:30pm.

However, Somerset’s hopes of a third straight victory were reignited after a lower order collapse saw three St George’s wickets fall for just one run.

“It got to a point where we started to get a little worried because we lost wickets fairly quickly and the wickets we lost were the guys we are used to seeing hang around and battle it out for us,” Pitcher said.

The St George’s captain admitted that his team’s batting was not up to par in both innings.

“Our batting is something we definitely have to work on,” he said. “It was a batsman’s paradise, perfect to bat on and some of our shot selection was a little off.

“First innings we were like 15 for four before Allan [Douglas] and Lionel [Cann] showed their class as well as the young colt Sinclair [Smith] and Macai [Simmons] our vice-captain.

“To come back the way we did in the first innings was exceptional.

“Second innings we got a good start and then fell off in the middle and so that’s something we definitely have to work on.”

Pitcher also acknowledged that coming up shy of the team’s bid to win the match for late team-mate Fiqre Crockwell, who was fatally shot last month, was hard to swallow.

“I am disappointed but at the same time we didn’t lose so I am sure Fiqre would be proud of us,” Pitcher said. “But we’ll take a draw on Somerset’s home turf.

“Yes, we wanted to win it for Fiqre. But we have to give credit where it’s due and Somerset deserve credit because they played extremely good game both days once again and we just have to come out stronger next year.”