After nearly two weeks of heated debate over just who was the 100th Cup Match's Most Valuable Player, the beaming smile of St.George's' colt Travis Smith finally brought closure to the saga.

Sponsors Camel were forced to take matters into their own hands for the first time since the inception of the award some 20 years ago after Somerset and St. George's failed to agree on a candidate.

So yesterday it came down to company representative Joanne McPhee to make the bold "declaration" and give Smith the nod over Somerset's own colt Dennis Pilgrim.

Announcing his arrival on the big stage in record-breaking fashion, Smith methodically bowled his way into the history books not only as the first colt since Eugene Hansey in 1969 to capture ten wickets on his debut, but also being the first colt to achieve this feat on a turf wicket.

Though no one was able to verify the fact yesterday, this year is thought to have been the first time a winner has been selected from the losing team, Somerset defeating Smith's side by four-wickets two weeks ago at Somerset Cricket Club.

"I wasn't all that nervous going into the match," Smith said recalling the match. "Once I got rolling I felt OK.

"Bowling the two top batsmen on the Island feels great," he added, referring to the dismissals of Somerset skipper Albert Steede and Janeiro Tucker.

Refusing to accept all the glory, the 22-year-old paid tribute to those who gave him the opportunity to take his place in the line-up.

"I would just like to thank the people who gave me a chance to show my stuff," he said. "My president, my club, my family and the rest of my team - thanks a lot!"

For those who believe the award should be reserved solely for someone on the winning side Smith said: "I can't see how they can say that the award should only go to the winning team really because if it's drawn match isn't there still an MVP?

"I really don't see why there should have been a big fuss. If it was Pilgrim, it was Pilgrim and if was me then it was me. But if it was a draw than there is still an MVP, so it really doesn't matter if they are on the winning team or not."

Proud St.George's president Neil Paynter was overjoyed to see his colt receive the award.

"I thought that he played an exemplary game," he said. "He fought hard and also showed great spirit - true St.George's spirit and I think that he was very much deserving of this award.

"No disrespect to Dennis, because I also think that he played well, but Travis was more deserving of it."

Pilgrim, meanwhile, was gracious in 'defeat'.

"I'm finally glad that it's all over," he said. "I was just happy to be a part of this historical occasion. Just to play Cup Match was a dream come true and to do well on top of that was a bonus."

Pilgrim enjoyed an equally fine match, seizing five wickets, holding onto three catches and swinging the bat for 22 runs during Somerset's first innings.

"Then to be nominated for Cup Match MVP ... you just can't ask for anything more than that," he said, adding that he was determined to scoop the award for himself next year. "They ultimately chose who they felt was the better man so next year I will just have to out and try even harder."

Somerset Cricket Club president Colin Smith left the award ceremony almost as soon as it ended but said later he planned to meet with Somerset executives to talk about the decision.

"I will have to sit down with my committee and discuss it, because I'm not happy with it at all!" he said.