Dropped Arnold Manders has confirmed he has played his last Cup Match, though he would have preferred to bow out gracefully instead of going the way of so many top players of the past.

The veteran allrounder said this would have been his final Cup Match anyway.

However, the St. George's selectors -- who have been unkind to him in the past -- decided instead to drop him for a fourth time, before he could make one final attempt at trying to score the elusive third Cup Match century.

"I had every intention of finishing this year and I think most of those guys knew that,'' said the Western Stars captain who, at age 36, insisted he still has plenty of cricket left in him.

"I'll play for Western Stars another couple of years and push for the next ICC (Malaysia in 1997), because I still think I can make a contribition. Then I'll call it quits.

"The major disappointment for me is the ICC and not getting to the World Cup.

In the next ICC I'm going to push for that.'' Manders is proud of the fact that he is one of only three Cup Match batsmen to have scored two centuries in Cup Match, something he accomplished in 1986 and '88, by which time he had already been dropped three times.

Manders always got the feeling he was the sacrificial lamb with the St.

George's selectors, the man to go if an opening needed to be created.

Still, his record in the Classic speaks for itself: 633 runs from 23 innings for a respectable average of 31.65, putting him seventh in the overall averages. He was also MVP in 1988.

His career spanned from 1978 to 1994, often asked to open the innings. The club even thought enough of him to choose him as vice captain in the last couple of years, though if there was one disappointment it was that his spin bowling was seldom utilised in Cup Match.

"I shouldn't have to prove anything to anybody, whether it be Cup Match, the league or representing my country,'' said Manders.

He admitted seeing the writing was on the wall and went into the final trial match on Saturday determined to shake things up with a big score.

Unfortunately he was run out for 16 and was dropped to make way for youngster Glenn Smith.

Gradually the older players are being moved out of the St. George's team to make way for new talent.

Manders was the start of a new, young crop in 1978 when he made his debut at 19 alongside the veterans Lionel Thomas, Clarence Parfitt, Lee Raynor, Rupert Scotland, Eldon Raynor, Neville Darrell and Noel Gibbons, who departed last year. The other three colts in the St. George's team that year were Adrian King, Allen Richardson and Allan Douglas.

"I don't agree with what they did with Noel who put in 23 straight years,'' said Manders. "People say he's not really performed up to expectations but he was MVP three times. I think both clubs need to be aware of the politics.'' He is surprised by the decision to omit Dean Minors while at the same time considering three others who also paid their dues late. "There are too many inconsistencies in club policies.

"They dropped me against Hyderabad Blues last year because I wasn't financial, but this year they allowed guys to play trial matches who weren't.

It should be the whole four or none at all.'' ARNOLD MANDERS -- Cup Match career is over.