Somerset 179

St.George's 185-5

Herbie Bascome grabbed five wickets for 27 runs and Charlie Marshall played a true skipper's innings to inspire visiting St.George's to a five-wicket triumph over Somerset at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Play in the match was delayed for one hour after heavy mid-afternoon showers resulted in the loss of 14 overs which restricted each team to 43 overs per innings.

However, after the rains had subsided, it would be Bascome's turn to wreak havoc on the proceedings. Bowling from the southern end, the dreadlocked medium pacer made the early breakthrough in the sixth over to have Sheridan (Baldy) Ming (10) routinely caught by a diving Mark Ray at silly mid-on.

Bascome then struck again two overs later when he had number three batsman Reid Jones trapped leg before wicket without scoring as St.George's continued to hold the upper hand.

The veteran bowler combined with his son Oronde to dismiss young Marvin Williams who steered one backward of point only to find the safe hands of the alert fielder to leave Somerset in trouble at 48 for three.

However, that only proved to be the beginning of their worries as within a six-over span they found themselves wobbling at 74 for seven after the quick dismissals of Wendell White (four), Shaun Roberts (0), Jacobi Robinson (four) and Shane Hollis for one.

But any thoughts St.George's may have had of short day in the field were quickly dashed by the home side's number nine batsman Shawn Wade.

The burly player stroked a boundary-laden 71 runs off 51 balls (six fours and six sixes), bringing up his half-century off only 36 balls in 48 minutes.

Wade put on 56 runs for the eighth wicket along with opener Toni Cheeseman (40) who was the only other Somerset bat to offer any resistance - despite being struck on the left elbow earlier by a rising Bascome delivery.

Wade then added a further 46 runs with Randy Simmons (seven) before he became the last wicket to fall. But by then, Somerset's tail had wagged tremendously and St.George's were now faced with a challenging total to chase.

Apart from Ming, Cheeseman and Wade, no other Somerset batsmen managed double digits.

Bascome finished with five wickets for 27 runs off nine overs including one maiden, while Gregg Foggo took two for 35, and Travis Smith two for 41. Wilbur Burt grabbed the remaining wicket to fall as Somerset were dismissed in 36.4 overs.

In reply, St.George's, with openers Oronde Bascome (30) and Mark (Beaver) Ray at the crease, got off to solid start. The opening pair put on 58 runs for the first wicket before Bascome was brilliantly caught at long-off by Randy Simmons off the bowling of White in the unlucky 13th over.

Ray and Detroy Smith (15) then set about repairing the damage and together they put on a further 25 runs before Smith fell victim to another smartly taken catch at long-off by Simmons again off White.

Ray departed in the 21st over after he was superbly caught by Shaun Roberts fielding at first slip, Ray made a well played 30 runs which contained five fours off 63 balls. Troy Hall was then on his way back to the pavilion three overs later, leaving St.George's at 115 for four.

However, Marshall came to the crease to put things back into perspective with a typically brisk knock of 55 runs sprinkled with ten fours and a six. Marshall brought up his half-century in 45 minutes off only 39 balls before he was gloved behind by Reid Jones in the 32nd over. But by then, the damage had already been done as St.George's were only 17 runs shy of victory with five wickets still in hand.

The end would be swift, and fittingly, it would be Bascome (20 not out) who would insert the final dagger by belting three sixes which put Somerset out of their misery.

White grabbed three wickets for 31 runs with two maidens to lead Somerset's attack, while Simmons and Hollis each grabbed a wicket apiece.