Wellington Oval (St George’s won toss): Match drawn

Isaiah O’Brien and Luke Horan celebrated being called up for the Annual Classic by blasting half-centuries to help St George’s retain the Colts Cup Match yesterday.

O’Brien hit four fours and seven sixes on his way to a 76-ball 87, while Horan’s knock of 64, from 36 balls, contained three fours and seven sixes. The duo’s efforts with the bat, assisted by 80 from captain Oyinde Bascome, powered St George’s to 334 for six in 62 overs.

Bascome, the MVP, went on to pick up two wickets, including that of Zeri Tomlinson, another player due for his debut in the Annual Classic, who fell for 51. Opener Callum MacFarlane was the highest scorer with 56 in Somerset’s response of 172 for three, as the match petered out to a stalemate.

O’Brien, who was stumped off Callum McIntosh’s bowling after charging down the track, expressed his desire to have gone out with a century.

“I’m excited with the way I finished, but it would have been better if I finished with a hundred,” the 17-year-old told The Royal Gazette.

“That would have been a top-class way to finish my Colts Cup Match career. It’s an honour that we were able to retain the trophy. We batted them out of the game, which means we did a great job with our batting.

“Being able to restrict them early with the ball was also a key part for us retaining the cup.

“The wicket was a batter’s paradise so we were able to bat up to 4.20pm, the cut-off time. I kept it in my mind that I have to bat, but at the same time bat positive — that meant picking up on the loose balls and capitalising on those.”

Horan is optimistic that St George’s keeping Colts Cup Match can have a positive impact in the big one come Thursday.

“It feels great to get a fifty in my last colts game,” he said.

“I had an awesome partnership with Isaiah [O’Brien], which I felt swung the game in our favour. Retaining the trophy is obviously huge for the club, as it can bring some momentum to the actual game.”

It was a momentous occasion for Brianna Ray, who became the first female cricketer to play in the Colts Cup Match. She made her opportunity count with two wickets.

Ray got her first wicket at the beginning of her sixth over when a leg-before decision went her way against opener Logan Jones, who made a painstaking 34 off 122 balls. The 21-year-old was also responsible for removing Horan when Sa-Qui Robinson held on to a difficult catch running in from long-on.

“It was a really cool experience for me to play in this match,” she said.

“Running in to bowl my first ball really felt special. I know how much it means for the young girls and young players out there who want to play cricket.

“I had to work really hard to get my two wickets. I had a couple of lbw decisions that didn’t go my way, which is fine. It was so great to me to win the battle with Luke Horan.

“Kudos to him for smacking the ball around like he did. Let’s see if he can do it again on Thursday and Friday.

“It was a good learning experience as well, so I’ve got a few things to work on through the next couple of weeks.

“It would be great to become the first woman to play in Cup Match, but I’ve to get that skill level up first.”