It was a near-perfect Cup Match debut, certainly beyond young Travis Smith's wildest dreams - except for one niggling thing.

His team - St. George's - failed to wrest the prized trophy from Somerset in the competition's 100th year. Their four-wicket defeat last Friday denied this colt a fairytale ending in a thrilling two-day tussle in which he played a feature role.

Five-wicket hauls in either Somerset innings earned Smith a match total of 10 wickets for 130 runs and the plaudits of supporters of both camps. It was the first time since 1969 that a bowler had taken a "fiver" in each innings on his debut.

"Travis bowled excellently. When we looked at the wicket when we first got here, I thought Travis - as a spin bowler - would do well. I figured it would be a good spinner's wicket," said St. George's assistant manager Barry Sousa.

Despite the accolades, the most successful bowler in this year's Cup Match was inconsolable. To hear him speak, it was obvious he would have willingly given up one or two of his scalps for victory to have gone the other way.

"It was a great experience. The atmosphere and all that was everything I expected but I don't like losing. My team didn't win and I like winning," said a dejected Smith, speaking shortly after the game finished at Somerset Cricket Club.

He conceded the loss made it hard to savour his personal success though he was sure he would have a private celebration at home with family and close friends later.

"I am still happy though. I won't forget this," said the 22-year-old who represents St. George's in regular domestic competition.

Smith expected to be more "nervous" in his first Cup Match outing but found that he was calm and everything was "all right". This, he said, helped him focus on the task of dislodging some of the Island's premier batsmen.

His first-innings return of five for 57 in 23.5 overs (four maidens), included the coveted wickets of Somerset skipper Albert Steede as well as middle-order master blasters Janeiro Tucker and Wendell White. He accounted for this trio again in the second innings plus veteran Dexter Basden and Curtis Jackson. Still his 13 overs (one maiden) were somewhat costly - due primarily to a batting blitz by Tucker - going for 73 runs.

Asked if it helped that his opponents were players he bowls to every weekend in the league competition, Smith replied: "No not really, Cup Match is Cup Match. It's a different game with a lot at stake and there are much more people."

Looking to the future, this big-hearted bowler's ambition is to make many more Cup Match appearances - definitely with better outcomes - and to represent Bermuda's national cricket team.

As he put it: "To enjoy myself and keep playing. I just love the game."