Somerset Cricket Club (Vice-President’s XI won toss): President’s XI drew with Vice-President’s XI

Dominic Sabir stroked a magnificent hundred to solidify his spot in the Somerset Cup Match team in their final trial on Saturday.

Playing for the Vice-President’s XI, the all-rounder produced a disciplined innings blended with controlled aggression, precision placement and excellent running between the wickets on the way to an unbeaten 113, which included seven fours and four sixes.

“I haven’t scored a hundred in a while, so to be able to able to go out there and reassure the selectors of my class was my main goal,” Sabir told The Royal Gazette.

“I started off a bit slow, but in this format that doesn’t really matter. I just wanted to bat time, take my time and put some runs on the board.”

Sabir’s innings was not without some fortune as he gave a difficult chance at silly mid-off and was put down at long-off shortly after reaching his fifty.

Other than those blemishes, Sabir was rarely troubled at the cease as he methodically picked apart the President XI’s bowling with surgical precision to carry his bat through to the mandatory 3.30pm cut-off time for the first innings.

“It was one of my finest knocks,” he said. “Very disciplined, very patient.

“I knew we had until 3.30pm to bat, and a lot of the other guys that were trialling for spots had unfortunately fallen earlier, so I just figured I’d take it the whole way.”

Sabir featured in two fruitful partnerships, adding 74 with Dalin Richardson (37) for the fourth wicket and 76 with Jaiden Manders (40) for the fifth as the Vice-President’s XI exploited the batting-friendly conditions on the way to an imposing 299 for six declared.

Earlier, Kamau Leverock smashed a typically brisk 63 in dominating an opening stand of 81 with Nacori Smith (20).

Seamer Deunte Darrell (two for 26) and spinner Sharye Tavares (two for 32) were the most successful of the President’s XI bowling attack.

In reply, the President’s XI posted 238 for six before stumps were drawn at 7.30pm.

Captain Terryn Fray retired out on 56, while Darrell also scored 56 before being caught behind by Zeri Tomlinson off Malachi Jones.

Top-order batters Amari Ebbin (48) and Alex Dore (48) both looked set before falling shy of their half-centuries, while Jermal Proctor (20) was the only other batter spending significant time at the crease.

Sabir also led the Vice-President XI’s bowling with two for 11 to cap an excellent all-round display.

After all was said and done on the pitch, the Somerset selectors took under four hours to pick their team, which underwent three changes from the outfit that thrashed St George’s by 226 runs on their home turf.

Alje Richardson (hamstring injury), Steven Bremar Jr and Proctor making way for colts Tomlinson, Dalin Richardson and Dore.

Norbert Simons, the chairman of selectors, said selection was centred around various aspects in the hope of maintaining the club’s stranglehold.

“It was a good process, plenty of discussion,” he said. “We were keeping in mind our process of maintaining a dominant team, looking to develop players for the future and also to instil some aspects of discipline in our team process.

“It ended up being a process where we debated for about two to 3½ hours, and most of it was around determining the way forward for the team.

“The Cup Match trial was quite interesting because some players were looked at in another light. But when it came down to team selection, it was a case of how do we go forward because we have to accept that Somerset has an ageing team, and we have to start making changes before we have to make changes."

Coach Janeiro Tucker is happy with the team put forward for Thursday and Friday at Wellington Oval, but admitted the selection process proved a difficult task.

“The team is a good blend of youth and senior players,” he said.

“Unfortunately, somebody had to loose out and it wasn't easy. But we had to make certain decisions to better the team.

“The colts are all good players and they will show it come Thursday and Friday.

“At Somerset, we have to start making changes, and I think the time is right so we don’t lose all our players at once and have to make changes all at once.”