It's a good job Ace Insurance's recently-announced sponsorship of the Cup Match Classic is ongoing -- albeit for an unspecified number of years.

Because if spectators are again forced to endure such negative tactics as were evident on the second day of Bermuda's showpiece cricket occasion yesterday, they might prefer to spend future two-day holidays on the beach.

Up until mid-afternoon the cricket had been interesting, if not enthralling, and with St. George's tottering at 80-5 and then 118-6 in their second innings, Somerset could no doubt scent blood.

Mark Ray's subsequent innings was important -- he consolidated, began to play his side into a winning position and while never flamboyant, produced increasingly pleasant strokes on a slow pitch which rarely encouraged fluency.

But Clay Smith's decision to allow him the time to complete the personal milestone of a century before declaring did no one in the ground -- Ray apart -- any favours, not even his own side and supporters who would surely have enjoyed a real victory to the hollow variety they achieved as holders.

Leaving Somerset an impossible target of 264 in the remaining 18 overs was not only a kick in the teeth for all true cricket lovers but also to potential converts -- all those, whether local or international, experiencing their first game.

Smith may argue, as St. George's president Luis DeSilva did earlier this week, that it is the challenger's job to dethrone the champions.

But that is an argument which taken to its logical extreme means we could see deathly draws like this ad infinitum.

It also denies the spectators -- paying $10 a time -- their fill of entertainment.

No one pretends that cricket is a game in which a result is the be-all and end-all. There are too many subtleties for that: the individual contests, the intriguing shifts in ascendancy, the contrasting styles and skills of each batsman and bowler -- all these things are the threads of a sport which even when not woven together perfectly can leave a lasting impression.

But when there is the chance of all that culminating at the end of two days in a finish that ensures at least a measure of interest, it seems foolhardy, if not downright petulant, to not take it.

The root of the problem may be found in Smith's television interview prior to play yesterday. He was obviously angry about Somerset's slow scoring the previous evening and suggested that they should declare behind in the first session.

But when Somerset's pairing of Steede and Robinson responded at the resumption by looking to push the score along, Smith immediately put in place a defensive field which may, in turn, have altered any thoughts Dexter Basden had about calling a premature end to the innings.

On a brighter note, there are moments that will live on in the memory long after the game as a whole is forgotten: Smith's imperious, effortless lift over mid-wicket for six on his way to his half-century in the St. George's first innings, Sammy Robinson's Cup Match 50 on his debut, Janeiro Tucker's diving catch to dismiss Glenn Blakeney which will not be bettered on many grounds worldwide this year.

Not to mention umpire Dennis Raynor's calm explanation of the rules to practically the whole Somerset team who pleaded with him to give Lionel Cann out after his mighty swipe had ballooned off short leg's helmet and into some waiting hands.

MASTER BLASTER -- Six-hitter extraordinaire Lionel Cann shapes for another brutal blow over mid-wicket during his innings of 14 yesterday. He cleared the boundary boards five times on his way to a quickfire 40 in his first innings.

PERFECT BALANCE -- St. George's skipper Clay Smith shows his technical proficiency at Cup Match yesterday.

CLARITY APPEAL -- St. George's Dean Minors seems certain Kwame Tucker should be on his way. He later was, stumped by the impressive wicketkeeper.

WAITING GAME -- St. George's tailender Ryan Steede looks to the far end for the umpire's ruling as wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker and silly point Irving Romaine ask the question.