Mishael Paynter produced a superb all-round display with the bat and ball to guide St George’s to an impressive 47-run triumph over Somerset in a high-scoring affair at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

He hit a career-best innings of 155 and then claimed two wickets with his off spin from the northern end of the ground.

“It started a little bit rough, I gave a chance early on with a screamer at mid-on that was put down,” Paynter said.

“The wicket initially was playing nice and then it started staying low so it was just a matter of waiting for the ball and playing it as straight as possible.

“I had a good partner with Treadwell [Gibbons] at the beginning. We just kept each other ticking over and then afterwards Macai [Simmons] hung around with me.

“After having a good knock they asked me to bowl ten overs on the trot. I had to do it for my team and from there we just went on and got the victory.”

St George’s got off to a flyer after electing to bat with Paynter and Gibbons putting on 139 runs for the first wicket with some powerful strokes that forced Somerset onto the back foot.

The home side finally made the breakthrough when Gibbons was dismissed for 71 off 62 balls. The left hander reached his fifty off of 54 balls and struck 11 fours and a six.

Somerset’s joy was short-lived, though, as Paynter kept the momentum going by adding 87 runs for the second wicket with wicketkeeper Temiko Wilson and another 60 with captain Simmons before he became the fifth wicket to fall with the score at 310.

The opening batsman brought up his fifty off 58 balls, with his century off an 100 and his 150 off 142, He struck 16 fours and two sixes.

Seam bowler Greg Maybury, who claimed the scalp of Paynter, was the pick of the Somerset attack with three for 50.

Somerset put up a good fight in reply with Maybury leading the run chase with a maiden hundred, sharing in useful partnerships with wicketkeeper Jade Morrisey and DeSilva.

Maybury hit 134 after being dropped early in his innings by Onais Bascome off his own bowling.

The left-handed reached his fifty off 40 balls and his hundred off another 62 balls.

Maybury added 65 for the first wicket with Morrisey as Somerset made a promising start and a further 103 with DeSilva for the fourth wicket before the wheels came off.

DeSilva scored 71, reaching his fifty off 46 balls.

Much hinged on Maybury and DeSilva to deliver and while they made St George’s sweat for a long spell, carrying their team to safety proved to be a task beyond reach.

“I thought Greg batted well and in that period of the game we were on top,” DeSilva said. “But we were always one wicket away from the entire game changing and St George’s knew that.

“Once they took it they made sure they finished off the game. Our bowling and fielding as a team wasn’t good enough and 330 is always going to be a tough ask.”

Simmons led the St George’s attack with three for 55.

“It was a good victory and a good start to the 50 overs,” Paynter said. “We posted a nice total and then defended it.”