Somerset 266

St.David's 243

Despite the valiant efforts of Clay Smith (104), Somerset still managed to defeat St.David's by a slim 23-run margin at Somerset Cricket Club yesterday.

Useful knocks by Davon Wade (60), Sheridan Ming (39), skipper Shawn Roberts (27) and another stellar performance by Wendell White (33 and four for 44), saw the west enders avenge a humiliating earlier loss to the Islanders at Lord's.

Wade carved out five fours and four sixes during his 51-minute stay at the crease. Ming stroked seven fours and White, who scored a century the previous day in the Western Counties, cracked two fours and three sixes.

Young Delyone Borden was St.David's' most successful bowler with four for 51 while Mackie Crane had three for 39.

Having to score over five runs per over, the Islanders got off to a reasonably good start with the explosive Glenn Blakeney (22) and skipper Sammy Robinson (17) putting on 41 runs for the first wicket.

But after White had Blakeney bowled, Robinson would also fall without any addition to the total. This brought skipper Smith to the crease and together with young Borden (three), the pair managed to carry the score along to 53 before White had the youngster scooped up by Wade.

Now poised at 53 for three, both Shannon Raynor (five) and Loren Marshall (five) also fell cheaply as Smith began to watch his partners come and go.

Pitcher (18) was next man out after adding 26 runs for the sixth wicket.

Smith finally reached his first ton of the season after blasting 13 fours and six sixes, but once he was the seventh wicket to fall, caught behind by the returning Reid Jones off White, Somerset began to sense victory.

Tailenders Peace (16) and Mackie Crane (17 not out) stalled the west enders' victory charge, but in the end their total would prove to be too much for the Islanders.

Shannon Warner and Tony Cheeseman also enjoyed success with the ball, both managing identical figures of two for 53. Shane Hollis had an expensive one for 63.