St David’s captain OJ Pitcher became the eighth batsmen to score 1,000 runs in the Eastern Counties in a draw against champions Bailey’s Bay at Lord’s on Saturday.

The top-order batter reached the milestone after driving Kyle Hodsoll to mid off and crossing for a single in his team’s reply to Bay’s 218 for nine.

He is now the third St David’s batsman to achieve the feat behind Allen Richardson and Albert Steede.

“This definitely means a lot personally but I’ve always been that team player, so it’s bittersweet because the team didn’t get to win the trophy today,” Pitcher told The Royal Gazette.

The 43-year-old all-rounder went on to stroke an unbeaten 50, which he reached off 64 balls after playing a Hodsoll delivery on the onside and crossing for a single.

That proved to be the final act of the day as spectators and team-mates remained on the pitch congratulating Pitcher when the 7.20pm cut-off time arrived.

Pitcher then dropped a bombshell when he announced his retirement from the competition during the post-match trophy presentation.

“It’s something that I mentioned to a few people that once I get this milestone I’m calling it quits,” he said.

“I have a lot of responsibilities at the job, family life and even the body at times is breaking down. It’s talking to me so I have to listen..

“I’m grateful I was able to achieve that milestone, but the perfect sendoff would’ve been winning that trophy as well. I’m going to finish the league season with St David’s, but after that it’s over.”

The draw was enough for Bay to retain the cup and be crowned champions of this year’s series, much to the delight of captain and man of the match and series Terryn Fray.

“It’s a great feeling to be in this position again and to be the guy that’s brought it home for my team,” he said.

“To carry the torch for Bailey’s Bay has always put a lot of pressure on me to do well and historically I haven’t done so well in Eastern Counties, so it’s finally great to be here and deliver. I’m just happy to be able to show up for my community and my team.”

The start of this contest, pitting two of the competition’s most successful teams together was delayed by an hour and a half due to a wet pitch, resulting in a revision in the allocation of overs with the team batting first receiving 48 and the second 40.

St David’s won the toss and promptly sent Bay into bat in the hope of exploiting the moist conditions but they might have rued that decision as Fray (82) and Delray Rawlins (35) produced a 56 run opening stand to put the holders in early control.

Rawlins went for the big shots early, smashing successive boundaries off Justin Pitcher while Fray hammered two off Sa-Qui Robinson in the next over to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Rawlins kept up his unrelenting assault, belting Seth Campbell down the ground for six to bring up the 50-run partnership in style.

Fray dodged a bullet when he was dropped by Brian Hall at square leg off Nzari Paynter when on 19.

St David's finally made the breakthrough when Rawlins was caught down the ground by Jonte Smith off the bowling of Campbell.

That was the only moment of joy for St David's in the morning session as Fray and vice-captain Rodney Trott (30) carried Bay to lunch without further loss.

Trott brought up the 50-run partnership when play resumed after playing a Smith delivery to mid off and crossing for a single.

Fray then reached his fifty off 73 balls after pulling Smith to square leg and crossing for a single.

With the overs fast running out, Bay threw caution to the wind in search of quick runs and lost a bundle of wickets in the process.

Trott was the first to go attempting to clear the ropes after Smith took a comfortable catch on the square leg boundary off the bowling of Pitcher and was soon joined in the pavilion by Tre Manders (8) who was judged leg before.

Fray's marathon innings finally ended when Paynter held a return catch off his own bowling.

Bay wicketkeeper Sinclair Smith (8) survived an attempted a run out at the striker's end, but team-mate Michael Agard (14) would not be as fortunate as he was bowled by Paynter around his legs attempting to pull across the line.

Campbell was brought back for a second spell and picked up three quick wickets charging in from the northern end of the ground.

First he pushed back Smith’s off stump before trapping Jermaine Usher (2) and Kyle Hodsoll (1) in front to leave Bay 201 for eight.

Dennico Hollis (19) was dropped by Robinson down the ground off the bowling of Paynter who got his man two balls later when he picked out Macai Simmons at mid on.

Last pair Macquille Walker (8) and Nyrhobi Carmichael (1) remained unbeaten when Bay’s overs expired.

Seamer Campbell (four for 40) and off spinner Paynter (three for 59) were St David’s’ most successful bowlers.

With an asking rate of 5.4 runs per over, St David’s got their chase off to a disastrous start after losing opener Paynter (4) and Isaiah O’Brien (0) in the space of four deliveries as Hodsoll enjoyed early success with the new ball in the day’s final session

Pitcher and Smith (19) carried the score along to 33 before second change Carmichael bowled the latter with his very first delivery after being brought into the attack.

Simmons thumped a brisk 38 from 37 balls and added 62 runs for the fourth wicket with Pitcher before he edged a Rawlins delivery into the hands of Trott at slip.

Pitcher joined the 1,000 run club and reached his fifty moments later before time ran out, with St David’s 122 for four after 27.3 overs.

Seamer Hodsoll was the pick of the Bay bowling with two for 29.

Bay guest player Derrick Brangman, who does not play against his league club St David’s in the competition, also received the Stanley Smith Trophy for Spinner of the Series during the postgame trophy presentation. The left-arm spinner finished with six wickets in the competition this year, including five for 56 in Bay’s 69-run victory over previous holders Cleveland County in the first round.

The draw for next year’s series was also held. Bay will begin their title defence against Flatts Victoria in the first round, with Cleveland drawn in the second and St David’s in the final round for the fourth straight year.