St George’s captain Sinclair Smith has taken full responsibility for his team’s heavy Cup Match defeat.

The challengers lost by an innings and 90 runs at Somerset Cricket Club after being bowled out twice on the second day when replying to Somerset’s first innings score of 391.

Yet, rather than point fingers at others for his team’s demise, Smith has laid the blame squarely upon himself.

“I don’t think as far as the team goes a better 11 players could’ve represented St George’s,” he told The Royal Gazette.

“There was just a few things that didn’t go our way over the two days and, as skipper, I’ll take responsibility for that — whether it’s a field placing, a bowling change or batting line-up.

“At the end of the day those things fall with me, but the team I have I can’t fault none of those guys with the effort that we’ve put in the last month or so.”

While St George’s have not enjoyed success in the Annual Classic in recent years, Smith believes better days are just around the corner for the challengers, who were dismissed for 113 in their first innings and 188 in their second.

“I know good, positive things are coming, so we just have to trust the process with the youth integrating with the elder guys and see where this takes us,” he said.

“But I have no qualms about my team with the effort the guys did; it’s just one of those things in cricket.”

Among the positives for St George’s this year were the performances of teenagers Isaiah O’Brien and Keegan Jones.

O’Brien, 18, stroked a team-high 64 and dominated an 82-run, second-wicket partnership with opener Nzari Paynter, while 19-year-old colt Jones claimed a wicket and also batted with a maturity as Somerset moved in for the kill.

Jones was the only change St George’s made to their team this year to fill the void created by the unavailability of opening batter Marcus Scotland.