Somerset Bridge 59, 136-2 Willow Cuts 436 Hard hitting Willow Cuts batsman Gladwin Edness celebrated not only his first century at senior level but the first double century in the Western Counties competition as he cracked a massive 206 in the two-day final against Somerset Bridge which ended in a draw yesterday.

The match appeared headed for an exciting climax yesterday with the champions, Willow Cuts, having a 70-run lead at the start of the second day, a lead which was extended to 266 by tea with Edness on 145.

But rather than declare and push for the first victory in the final of the competition since 1991, captain Dexter Basden decided to continue repaying a `debt' to Edness as he allowed him to push for Jeff Richardson's record 186 and subsequently the 200 as all chance of victory faded long before the Cuts innings finally ended at 5.15.

"Two seasons ago, against Bridge too, I brought him off on 90 just before lunch and robbed him of a century,'' remembered Basden, who made an unpopular declaration in trying to win the cup. "I robbed him of a century and some guys said I should have given him the chance, but I was trying to win.'' Winning became secondary this time as Edness was allowed to continue batting by his captain as he raced to 150 soon after tea and then into the record books with a six over long-off off the bowling of George Weller to become the first player in the competition to reach 200.

"I told him to go ahead and bat and once he got the 150 I said to go after Jeff's record and then go after the double,'' explained the captain, knowing his failure to declare was bound to earn him some criticism.

"If Western Stars had been batting and Jeff Richardson was banging the ball around, fellas wouldn't complain,'' said Basden.

While a victory could easily have been achieved with a timely declaration, Basden still believes it is time to consider changing the final back to one day and in line with the first and second rounds which are played as 60 over matches.

"I don't want to kill the game but next season when the Western Counties hold their AGM we're hoping for 60 overs, one day not two days,'' said Basden.

"The 60 overs were put forward this year but too late.

"We've achieved some goals this season, making 422 against Flatts and 435 today. The whole 16 years I've played we've never scored that many runs. I was brought up with Edness in the youth squad and to watch him make a double century today was superb, pretty to watch.'' Ironically, it was Richardson who ended Edness' innings, taking a running catch on the square leg boundary. But it came too late to protect his own previous record of 186 which came as a colt in the 1992 final against Southampton Rangers.

Edness, 29, finally got to experience what it felt like to score both a century and then 200 on the same day, though there was only a modest crowd to see history being made. It was the highest score of the season.

Coming to the wicket at 11.16 and departing at 5.04 after batting the better part of three sessions. Edness hit 21 fours and nine sixes as he showed little respect for the Bridge bowlers.

"I never felt tired the whole time,'' admitted Edness whose previous other century was 109 for Paget Primary against Dellwood almost 20 years ago.

"I thought he was going to call me in after I got 150 after tea,'' said Edness who said he was relieved to be allowed to keep batting. "I had 145 at tea and after tea and after the record (186) I kept on going and when I looked the 200 was up.

"Everybody was talking about the record at tea time but that was still 40 runs away.'' When the Cuts innings finally ended, Somerset were facing a deficit of 376 but with just 20 overs to bat there was never any fear of them losing in the final hour. At least Bridge made a better showing than their 59 in the first innings, as guest players Perry Maybury (54) and Jeff Richardson (58) both hit half centuries during their unbeaten stand of 85 for the third wicket.

Richardson was the high man in the Bridge first innings as they lasted just 35.5 overs. Rodney Fubler and Vance Gilbert claimed four for 26 and four for 27 respectively.

Other contributors in Cuts biggest total of the season were openers Dexter Basden (46) and Jermaine Warner (55) who put on 76 for the first wicket.

Nightwatchman Kevin Fubler scored 17 while Wayne Ball and Rodney Fubler hit 32 and 21 not out in the tailend.

Corvette Lambert took three for 70 and Brian Gibbons three for 65. In total Willow Cuts batted for 118.1 overs with Bridge using nine bowlers.

DEMOLITION MAN -- Gladwin Edness mixed attack with defence on his way to a record 206 in the Western Counties final at White Hill Field yesterday.