A brilliant, chanceless unbeaten century by opener Terryn Fray enabled Somerset to turn a first-innings deficit into a thrilling eight-wicket victory yesterday at Somerset Cricket Club.

St George’s kept the game open when they declared at 200 for nine to set the champions a target of 237 for victory in three hours and 20 overs. Although St George’s removed Chris Douglas when he attempted to pad away a ball from Rawlins that deflected on to his stumps, ending an opening stand of 43, the spark quickly went out of St George’s. They struggled to penetrate on a pitch that did not deteriorate as expected.

That no bowler was able to come close to matching George O’Brien’s outstanding effort from the first innings when he claimed eight wickets for 76 runs, coupled with the depth in the Somerset batting meant that St George’s knew their task of taking ten wickets late on the second day would be a difficult task.

Fray’s first century in Cup Match was memorable: he came to the crease at 3.31pm and was still there at 7.25pm, when Malachi Jones drove Lateef Trott through the covers for four with 5.5 overs of the final 20 remaining. Fray faced 111 balls and hit 14 fours in his 121 not out, as St George’s used seven bowlers in trying for a breakthrough.

Fray and Tre Manders, who scored a maiden century himself last year, shared in a second-wicket stand of 151 that laid the foundation for victory, a second for Somerset in three years. But Jekon Edness, the Somerset captain, credited St George’s for trying to force a victory as they sought a declaration that would give them ample time to bowl out Somerset a second time.

“St George’s could have really taken the game away from us, not to say they would have won, but there probably wouldn’t have been a result,” he said.

“If they had posted over 300 we wouldn’t have gone after that, and with such little time. We were down but far from out and we came out on the second day and put the performances together.”

Edness admitted he would have done the same as St George’s in trying to force a result. “In my first year as captain I lost, but my attitude was, ‘What are we losing when you don’t have the cup,” he said. “Why play for a draw?”

Manders struck six fours in his knock of 55 off 98 balls and his departure with 43 runs still needed enabled Malachi Jones to come to the crease and help man of the match Fray to carry them over the line. Jones scored 27 not out from 22 balls, with four fours, when victory was achieved.

“Terry Fray was excellent, Tre Manders excellent over the two days and Janeiro Tucker, too,” said the captain.

Tucker won the Safe Hands award after taking five catches over the two days to go with his three for 25 in the St George’s second innings that made up for his first-ball duck on the first day.

George’s O’Brien wrapped up the Somerset first innings inside 45 minutes on the second morning to finish with a haul that puts him in the rich company with the legendary Clarence Parfitt and Alec Steede as the only players to take eight wickets in an innings in Cup Match.

Delray Rawlins got the other two wickets on his debut to go with a delightful 55 not out on debut in the first innings, as St George’s posted 274 for seven declared. Dismissing Somerset for 238 was down to the two bowlers, as they used only four bowlers in the first innings.

Jacobi Robinson stroked 49 from 40 balls, with five fours and two sixes, at No 9 as he and Derrick Brangman, who made 21 not out, put on a crucial 59 for the ninth wicket.

OJ Pitcher was the batting hero for St George’s, scoring a first Cup Match century of 115 in the first innings and then 40 in the second as St George’s chased a quick declaration. Fiqre Crockwell was the high scorer in the second innings with 69 off 109 balls, as he and Pitcher put on 72 for the first wicket after Jason Anderson was forced to retire with just four runs on the board because of a finger injury. After treatment at hospital, he returned to bat at the fall of the seventh wicket on 155, when Crockwell was bowled by Greg Maybury.

Shannon Rayner, the other colt, stroked 37 in the tailend, including five fours and a six, in 49 minutes. Jordan DeSilva supported Tucker with three for 53 from 13.3 overs.

The St George’s bowlers, without O’Brien leading the way, found it tough to penetrate the Somerset batting a second time.

“At the end of the day, the wicket was a batting paradise and if we had batted longer, it would have been impossible to get ten wickets,” Bascome said. “We gave ourselves the chance and didn’t have anything to lose, but the game. On another day, it could have gone our way.

“I credit our bowlers, they really put in the work, but it wasn’t out there for them today.”