Janeiro Tucker has landed the prestigious Cup Match MVP award for his record century in this year’s classic which ended in a draw at Somerset Cricket Club.

The Somerset stalwart stroked a patient and disciplined 113 in an innings spanning nearly two sessions to become the first batsman to score five centuries in Cup Match.

It was also Tucker’s first hundred in Somerset in what was his 21st and final Cup Match appearance.

While the former Somerset captain has yet to be officially presented with the award Alfred Maybury, the Somerset Cricket Club president, confirmed yesterday that Tucker has been chosen as this year’s MVP.

It is an award he has now won an unprecedented six times after beating out the likes of Allan Douglas Jr, the St George’s all-rounder, who scored an aggressive 77, claimed five wickets and earned the Safe Hands Award.

Tucker, Cup Match’s most prolific batsman, will receive a $1,500 gift certificate for international travel as well as a $500 gift certificate for cricket, or any other sporting gear, provided by Stevedoring Services Limited, the MVP award sponsor.

At the postgame ceremony at Somerset last week Maybury, now serving in his final year as Somerset’s president, thanked Tucker for his outstanding contributions to Cup Match and for delivering on a request for a maiden century at Somerset on his curtain call.

“I made one request of Janeiro because he had scored four centuries previously and all of them were in St George’s, they should name their field after him,” Maybury said. “I had one request and that’s before you go I want a century on Somerset’s field and he delivered.

“I want to thank you Janeiro because you brought more to Cup Match than a lot of people. All that you’ve brought to this game gave all of the spectators much to be thankful for and we thank you for your commitment and dedication to the game of Cup Match.

“As you become one of those former players we hope and pray that you have enjoyed the game as much as we have enjoyed watching you play.”

As per the rules governing Cup Match, the MVP is supposed to be determined by the two opposing coaches and third umpire and announced at the conclusion of the two-day match. But this did not happened because all three parties were unable to get together to deliberate.

“The three of them didn’t get together and that was the problem,” Maybury said.

“The association guy [James McKirdy, the third umpire] tried but the three of them didn’t get together so we need to work on that.”

Steven Douglas, the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association president, added: “My umpire [McKirdy] did his job 100 per cent. He did everything he was advised to do that was discussed at the meeting with the captains and coaches on the rules and regulations and followed through. He could not have done anymore.”

The delay in announcing the MVP forced Stevedoring Services to cancel Monday’s prize giving ceremony at their headquarters at the City of Hamilton dock on Front Street. The ceremony has yet to be rescheduled.