Somerset took the Cup Match trophy back home after the 2025 Annual Classic ended in a draw at Wellington Oval on Mary Prince Day.

A stalemate was always likely to be on the cards after the day’s play was delayed by three hour as heavy rain made its way across the island, giving both sides a paucity of time to attempt to secure the win.

But Janeiro Tucker, the Somerset coach, was delighted to keep the cup in his first year after taking over from Jeff Richardson.

“That was the main goal, to make sure that we return to Somerset with the trophy and that was the outcome,” the Cup Match legend told The Royal Gazette.

“That’s what we accomplished over the two days. I think it’s a good outcome for us and it’s good moving forward as a team.

“We came for the win but it didn’t work out that way. At the end of the day, we got the draw and I’m happy with the outcome.

“We have to accept what happened with the weather, but we had to come back, fight like we did and knock them out, whereas they declared with a 48-run deficit.”

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St George’s coach Clay Smith blamed the bad weather for disrupting their batting plans.

“We had three hours of rain and that definitely affected the outcome,” he said.

“Had it not rained, we could have batted and gotten a lead, then seen how they reacted under pressure. The rain affected us and we didn’t bat according to how we wanted to, which is why we declared when we were still behind.

“We had to declare so that we could have a chance to bowl at them. If we had bowled really well and taken our chances, maybe we would have had an hour to get whatever they got.

“The weather didn't do us any good, but I’m proud of my boys because they continued to fight right down to the last ball.”

St George’s resumed on 176 for five as they attempted to chase down Somerset’s 291 and the first couple of hours revolved around Delray Rawlins’s attempt to achieve his first Cup Match century.

Rawlins started the final day unbeaten on 76 and survived a potential run-out after a breakdown in communication with colt Luke Horan, who was called into action after Isaiah O’Brien’s attempted pull shot off Kamau Leverock was grasped by Terryn Fray.

That mix-up aside, Rawlins appeared to be making serene progress and was just two runs away from his personal milestone when he lost his wicket in unfortunate circumstances.

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Facing Malachi Jones, Rawlins was hit on the side as he tried to flick down the leg side with the ball dropping to the floor and rolling slowly back on to hit the stumps. The disappointment from the passionate St George’s supporters was audible but their groans of despair turned to acclaim as they roared their star player off the pitch.

Horan played some big shots, scoring 20 off 15 balls, including back-to-back fours off Dion Stovell, but his dismissal, followed by that of his captain Sinclair Smith prompted St George’s to declare on 243 for nine, 48 behind the champions.

Leverock was the pick of Somerset’s bowlers with four for 59, veteran Jones had three for 56 and Derrick Brangman took two for 38.

To win back the cup for the first time in more than a decade, St George’s were hoping they would bowl out the champions cheaply, and their hopes were boosted when Leverock was caught behind off the bowling of Horan for just 12.

Tre Manders and Dominic Sabir fell cheaply for just 13 and two respectively to leave Somerset at 47 for three and allow fleeting hope of a shock result.

But Fray, as steady as ever, followed up a half-century on day one with another on the second day, scoring 57 before being trapped leg before by Rawlins.

Zeko Burgess then put himself in contention for the safe hands award by taking a stunning diving catch to dismiss colt Alex Dore, although the St George’s player limped off afterwards.

Onias Bascome, who appeared to welcome virtually every Somerset batter in the second innings with a verbal volley, saved his most intimidating behaviour for colt Zeri Tomlinson, who jumped ship from St George’s to Somerset this year.

Tomlinson would have been pleased to get off the mark after a golden duck in the first innings and also delighted to see veteran Stovell at the other end to guide him through the last couple of hours of play.

Stovell played some glorious shots before he was caught on 37 by Burgess, who virtually guaranteed himself the Safe Hands Award with his second fantastic catch of the innings.

Dalin Richardson then came in and made four before he was baited into playing a big shot by Rawlins and Simmons after a series of defensive strokes, to give fielding reserve Keegan Jones a catch and colt Isaiah O’Brien his first Cup Match wicket.

Tomlinson (37) and Derrick Brangman (11) were at the crease as stumps were finally pulled.

While delighted to retain the trophy after securing an outright win in his year as the captain last year, Fray called out some Cup Match players for inappropriate behaviour on the field.

“As players, we’re lacking decorum and respect for the game,” the Somerset captain said.

“We need to understand that these guys [umpires] are here to do a job and they might not get it right. At the end of the day, we have to respect them because they make cricket happen, whether we like it or not.

“Going forward, I would like to see both teams have more respect towards the umpires. For those that had hard outs, live with it because we all get that and we have to move forward.”

St George’s captain Sinclair Smith felt that his team fulfilled promises made to the supporters.

“I couldn’t guarantee a result this year, but I told the fans that the team will come committed and determined over the two days,” he said.

“I think I fulfilled that promise and I look forward to next year, let’s get this St George’s, it’s not over yet.”