St.George's Cricket Club threw caution to the wind, boldly making four changes to their Cup Match team which will take on Somerset on Thursday and Friday at Wellington Oval.

The challengers have included two colts and recalled two players in an effort to wrestle the coveted trophy from champions Somerset who have held onto the silverware for the past four years.

Coming in are colts Delyone Borden and Mackie Crane while Clarkie Trott and Chris Foggo both earned recalls.

Dropped from last year are Mark Ray, OJ Pitcher and Peter Philpott, while Gary Brangman has now retired from the annual classic.

Selectors are hoping that Crane will reinforce the east enders' bowling attack alongside Herbie Bascome and Gregg Foggo while teenager Borden is included as an all-rounder.

Trott, missing since 1998, is expected to shoulder much of the seam bowling duties while Foggo will take charge behind the stumps as wicketkeeper.

The full squad is as follows:

Charlie Marshall (captain), Gregg Foggo (vice-captain), Glenn Blakeney, Herbie Bascome, Clay Smith, Lionel Cann, Mackie Crane (colt), Clarkie Trott, Delyone Borden (colt), Travis Smith, Chris Foggo. Reserves: Oronde Bascome and James Celestine.

"I think we've got a good selection of bowlers and some quality batsmen who can hold their own and complete the job which is required. And we also have six quality batsmen. So I don't think we lack depth in our batting," commented Lewis Foggo, chairman of St.George's Cup Match selection committee.

As anticipated, the selection process spilled into the early hours of Sunday morning. The team was finally announced at 1.15 a.m.

The surprise of the night was the omission of young all-rounder Pitcher.

"Not everyone can be picked at the end of the day," said Foggo. "We would like to accommodate them all . . . but such is life."

He added: "The selectors came together and had a job to do. And we are confident that the team which we have picked can do the job on the day and overall the members are satisfied with the final selection."

Meanwhile, long before the team deliberations had begun, the Vice-President's XI narrowly defeated the President's XI by one wicket at Wellington Oval on Saturday.

Protecting a respectable total of 192, the President's Select toiled in vain to remove tailenders Gregg Foggo (21) and Wilbur Burt (one) who managed to snatch victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat.

Setting the stage for the late dramatics were Peter Philpott and Chris Foggo who both stroked 45 runs and Mark Ray - dropped on three occasions - with 36.

Clarkie Trott, by far the President's XI's best bowler, took four wickets for 33 runs off 13.1 overs which also included two maidens while seamers Mackie Crane and Hari Rawat each grabbed two wickets apiece. Eugene Foggo took one for 11 from five overs of spin with one maiden.

Foggo also topped the President's batting earlier, with another typically patient knock of 39, while James Celestine belted a brisk 24, skipper Charlie Marshall 29 and wicketkeeper/batsman Ricardo Brangman who remained unbeaten on 30 at the crease when his team were finally dismissed in the 53rd over of the match.

Philpott proved to be the pick of the Vice-President's bowling. The veteran spinner grabbed two wickets for 20 runs off seven overs, two of which were maidens and found good support from Herbie Bascome, Gregg Foggo and Wilbur Burt who each also managed to bag a pair of scalps.

Travis Smith and OJ Pitcher grabbed one wicket apiece - the latter on the fourth delivery of his very first over.