Beleagured Somerset Cup Match skipper Jacobi Robinson broke silence yesterday over his controversial decision to concede a draw in the closing stages of last week's classic at Somerset Cricket Club.

The 23-year-old all-rounder has rigorously defended his stance to call it quits.

And, rather than take the heat on himself, he has instead pointed the finger at the two hours of play that were lost to rain, a batting friendly pitch and the cup holders' over cautious approach on the second day.

St.George's found themselves in a sticky position of 39 for four with 72 balls remaining in the match when Robinson took up an offer to call it an early day.

Speaking publicly on the debacle for the first time yesterday, Robinson told The Royal Gazette: "It was my decision and I take full responsibility for whatever happened on the field. I caught a vibe from my team and figured what's the sense of going on if St.George's weren't going to go for the runs.

"I don't feel that we gave up because we fought hard for two days and put in a lot of work and it annoys me to know that people are dwelling on 12 overs when it took us 38 overs to get four wickets.

"If it took us 38 overs to get four wickets then what makes you think we could get six in 12?"

Robinson added: "People are saying this and that but at the end of the day these guys (St.George's) weren't going to just give away their wickets.

"People can talk tactics all they want but St.George's had no intentions of winning the game.

"One way or another the game was going to be a draw from the moment the last 20 overs started. Now what type of cricket was that? It was not good cricket but some people want to turn things around on me because I brought my players in with 12 overs remaining."

After losing four early wickets St.George's stalwarts Clay Smith and Charlie Marshall dropped anchor, thus dragging the match into stalemate.

Robinson insists the champions had ample time to go after a target of 237 in two hours and 20 overs.

"We gave them (St.George's) enough time to win the game but Clay (Smith) and Charlie (Marshall) didn't look for any runs. They just did what they had to do to keep the cup," he said. "There was no way we were going to get six wickets with the experience St.George's have in their line-up.

"Not saying that it's impossible, but the reality of the situation is those guys were not even looking to score runs."

Robinson felt the time lost to early morning showers on the first day and a tame batting strip also worked against his team's game plan.

"The rain was a big factor because in order to win the cup you need every single minute to do so. You also have to take into consideration the way the wicket was playing," he added.

"That wicket was hard to bowl on; it had no bounce or turn. Our spinners weren't able to get any turn because the ball only swung for the first two hours – after that it was all over."

n Torrential downpours put paid to Bermuda's One Day International (ODI) against the Netherlands in Amsterdam yesterday.

According to local forecasts, chances of today's second ODI against getting underway appear just as slim as more rain is predicted to fall at the Amsterdamse Bos.

Bermuda return home later this week to prepare for a triangular series involving Canada and Test side West Indies in Toronto from August 22-29.