Perhaps no one was more relieved than Joe Bailey to watch Somerset finally put an end to their Wellington Oval drought.

Before yesterday Somerset had not beaten St George’s at Wellington Oval since 1981 when Bailey led the West Enders to a famous nine-wicket victory.

“I am so proud and happy for all of them ... I can’t really put it into words,” said Bailey, who congratulated Jekon Edness, the Somerset captain, in the team dressing room.

“We came close on the last three occasions down here to winning the cup and it’s good to finally get the job done. The way it all went you could see the guys were out there to win this match.

“I took a lot of licks down here before we won handsomely, but these guys have won even more handsomely today and I am glad they did.”

There was unbridled joy in the Somerset dressing room moments after Edness scored the winning boundary that ended the champions’ 34-year drought in the East End.

“This is sweet,” Janeiro Tucker, Somerset’s most senior player, said. “This is my 20th Cup Match and to finally win in St George’s after all those years is really sweet. We are going to celebrate this victory for the whole year.”

Terryn Fray, who top scored with an unbeaten 61 and featured in an unbroken 44-run third-wicket partnership with Edness that carried Somerset across the line with a session to spare, added: “It feels great to win at Wellington Oval for the first time in 34 years. Every day is an experience with these guys, they are a good bunch of players.”

Yesterday’s victory was Somerset’s second straight after last year’s equally convincing win at Somerset Cricket Club.

Bailey believes the best is yet to come from the champions with an abundance of young talent keen to break into the team.

“St George’s better be careful because Somerset are going from strength to strength,” said Bailey, whose great nephew Justin Donawa was a reserve for Somerset this year. “They have some good young guys up there and they are fighting hard to get in the side.”