first time in 14 years.

Thousands of cricket fans flocked to Somerset Cricket Club to watch the Cup -- held by St. George's since 1983 -- come back to "Silver City'' in a nail-biting finish to the annual classic.

"I am just glad we won,'' said relieved Somerset supporter Warren Iris as fans mobbed the Somerset Cricket Club pavilion. "I would just like to congratulate our captain Dexter Basden on a job well done.

"It was the most exciting game I have seen in all the years I have been watching Cup Match.'' Before Somerset took the victory with three wickets to spare, the game had ebbed and flowed over two days, with first Somerset and later St. George's taking the advantage.

But after Somerset bowled out St. George's at 4.58 p.m. yesterday and started chasing the victory total of 252, excitement in the ground began to build.

By 8 p.m., it was all over as Somerset passed the St. George's total.

Thousands of fans stormed the Somerset ground to celebrate the moment, after watching St. George's desperately battle to hang onto the most prized sports title in Bermuda.

"It was a well-fought victory for Somerset despite St. George's tactics,'' said Somerset fan Christine Virgil: "You can't keep a good team down.'' Leann Gibbons was critical of delaying tactics by St. George's as darkness set in. "I was disgusted by St. George's tactics and especially by the captain Clay Smith. It doesn't show leadership what he did.'' But she claimed the extra hour allowed on both days of the game for the first time was not a factor.

"I don't think it made much difference,'' said Mrs. Gibbons. "It depended on the individuals and what they did during the game.'' And asked what Somerset would be like last night, she said: "Nothing will close until 3 a.m. We are all excited.'' St. George's supporter David Augustus was magnanimous in defeat.

"I am a St. George's fan, but it is time we had a decision,'' he said. "I think it will be good for cricket for Somerset to have the Cup.'' Earlier in the game, US visitor Frank Lyden told a Royal Gazette reporter how this was the first time he had seen a cricket match since the Second World War was raging across the European continent and England, battered but unbeaten, was bursting with fresh-faced allied troops.

Yesterday, from the shade of the packed visitors' tent of the Somerset Cricket Club, the Westbury, New York, resident grinned when asked about the ins and outs of the game and admitted that 50 years have indeed taken a toll on his memory.

Not that it matters anyway, he told The Royal Gazette ; there's more to Cup Match than cricket.

"I think this is great; it's like baseball. The people, the breezes, the temperature. It doesn't get much better. I just can't believe I waited so long to take it in.'' And Mr. Lyden was not alone; more tourists than ever seemed to be on hand for the mid-summer classic.

For companion Gordon Henry of Paget, the Somerset-St. George's cricket clash has been a regular feature of his Bermudian summer.

"I've never missed one, but this year the crowd seemed smaller. It's definitely a quality cricket crowd though,'' said Mr. Henry.

Quality, not quantity seems to put the best spin on the 95th edition of Cup Match.

According to Rochelle Saunders, secretary of the host Somerset Cricket Club, 3,500 people walked through the turnstiles on the first day of the match while yesterday fans began swelling the bleachers for the closing hours of the two-day match.

And visitors, agreed Ms Sanders, seemed to be more numerous than ever. Yet despite the increase in visitor attendance and a recent campaign by the United Bar Owners Association to "raise the spirits'' and profile of the mid-summer classic, Cup Match observers and vendors generally agreed that attendance had fallen again.

The smaller crowd and sweltering heat however, failed to dampen the party mood around the cricket pitch and the Somerset "stock market,'' the ever popular Crown and Anchor sideshow.

Recently-arrived Greg and Sue Hendrick of Paget told The Royal Gazette they were enjoying their first Cup Match experience.

"Sure, it's hot but it's a lot of fun,'' said Mr. Hendrick.

The family of three took in a bit of the match, "but mostly we've been walking a little, eating a little, and walking a little. Just watching what's going on,'' said Mrs. Hendrick.

Despite recent concern over high prices the Hendrick family said while food was a little expensive "it's not ridiculous.'' The family estimated they'd spend about $60-70 for their one day visit.

Food prices in general were slightly higher than downtown Hamilton fare. A fish dinner averaged $13 while an order of scallops cost $14; simpler meals such as a hot dog cost $2.50.

Somerset resident Jason Minors spent both days with his family around the boundary, visiting a number of food and toy stalls.

"With two kids you've got to have the toys,'' Mr. Minors told The Royal Gazette .

"If you count the price of admission I figure I've spent about $100 a day.

It's not too bad I guess. I just put $100 in my pocket and head on down. It could be worse. Yesterday (Thursday) I saw one guy drop $300 on his first Crown and Anchor bet. He lost it all on the first roll.'' Vendors however were disappointed with this year's turnout. Rita Wilks told The Royal Gazette this was her first year running a food stall and said Thursday was "very slow''.

"It seemed to pick up a little in the afternoon but I think a lot of people are staying away because it's just too hot. Either that or they're going to the beach.'' One Crown and Anchor table operator said crowd numbers are definitely down.

"It's really poor this year. I think people are fed up with high prices or they'd rather go camping.

"I've been coming to Cup Match for over 30 years. My first time there were 45 (Crown and Anchor) tables and we paid about ten shillings a day for the stall.

This year there are only 16 tables and it costs $900 a day.

"I think Cup Match has lost a lot of its flavour, you know?'' However with the thrilling finish last night, it's a good bet that attendance will surge again next year as St. George's will battle to win the Cup back -- and Somerset will try to hold on to it.

SCOREBOARD SOMERSET v ST. GEORGE'S Somerset won by three wickets at Somerset.

St. George's first innings W.Smith run out 27 G.Smith b C.Hill 20 C.Marshall c wk Trott b K.Fubler 19 C.Smith b J.Tucker 2 C.Wade c and b Fubler 7 D.Minors c Richardson b Blades 24 E.Foggo c Hill b Durham 18 L.Cann st wk Trott b Hill 70 C.Trott b Blades 0 D.Adams c Tucker b Durham 1 G.Foggo not out 6 Extras (2-b, 3-lb, 1-w, 7-nb) 13 Total 207 Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-62, 3-67, 4-69, 5-86, 6-107, 7-148, 8-155, 9-157.

Bowling: R.Blades 14-4-56-2; C.Hill 12.1-4-51-2; J.Tucker 12-4-26-1; K.Fubler 14-3-35-2; H.Durham 8-0-34-2.

Somerset first innings A.Steede c Trott b Cann 71 T.Gibbons c C.Smith b G.Foggo 20 D.Basden st wk Minors b Adams 16 J.Richardson c W.Smith b E.Foggo 30 A.Manders b C.Smith 0 J.Tucker st wk Minors b E.Foggo 57 R.Trott c Hall b Marshall 15 R.Blades b Marshall 2 C.Hill not out 1 H.Durham not out 1 Extras (5-b, 5-lb, 1-w, 4-nb) 15 Total (for eight declared) 228 Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-60, 3-114, 4-115, 5-156, 6-224, 7-226, 8-226.

Bowling: C.Trott 10-3-29-0; G.Foggo 8-0-22-1; D.Adams 12-1-42-1; E.Foggo 14-3-59-2; C.Wade 3-0-18-0; C.Smith 7-1-29-1; L.Cann 4-0-16-1; C.Marshall 1-0-3-2.

St. George's second innings W.Smith b Durham 39 G.Smith c Gibbons b Durham 40 E.Foggo c wk Durham 17 C.Marshall c Gibbons b Hill 0 C.Smith c Hill b Durham 47 C.Wade c Basden b Durham 3 D.Minors lbw b Tucker 45 L.Cann c Blades b Durham 0 C.Trott b Blades 18 G.Foggo not out 11 D.Adams b Durham 14 Extras (13-b, 17-lb, 5-w, 3-nb) 38 Total 272 Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-105, 3-112, 4-115, 5-115, 6-148, 7-209, 8-236, 9-252.

Bowling: R.Blades 21-8-39-1; C.Hill 18-4-62-1; J.Tucker 10-3-38-1; K.Fubler 11-0-32-0; H.Durham 29.2-5-71-7.

Somerset second innings A.Steede c Trott b E.Foggo 108 T.Gibbons st wk Minors b Adams 60 J.Richardson c C.Smith b Adams 0 J.Tucker c Wade b E.Foggo 2 D.Basden c Marshall b Adams 7 C.Hill c Marshall b E.Foggo 25 R.Blades c Wade b Trott 24 A.Manders not out 16 R.Trott not out 1 Extras (7-lb, 1-w, 2-nb) 10 Total (for seven wickets) 253 Fall of wickets: 1-119, 2-120, 3-123, 4-145, 5-182, 6-211, 7-247.

Bowling: C.Trott 6-0-39-1; G.Foggo 4-0-18-0; E.Foggo 11.4-0-69-3; C.Marshall 8-0-49-0; D.Adams 7-0-53-3; C.Wade 2-0-18-0.

Umpires: Randy Butler, Dennis Raynor First day Lunch -- St. George's 148-7 Somerset's innings began at 3.05 Close of day -- Somerset 228-8 (declared overnight with lead of 21) Second Day Lunch -- St. George's 134-5 Somerset's innings began at 5.14, needing 252 to win Somerset had 108 when final 20 overs began; won the match by three wickets with two balls remaining.