grandfather, Ralph Smith, who passed away last month.

Wendell, who is now the leading run-getter in the history of Cup Match with 993 runs after his 129 in the first innings and 59 in the second, was disappointed at not capping two fine batting performances by becoming the first batsmen to score 1,000 runs in Cup Match.

"I had problems with the heat,'' he explained afterwards but said he didn't expect to break Lloyd James' record in this match.

"I thought I would only move from third to second and that I would need about four more innings,'' he explained. "When I first started I never had these goals in mind. It was a matter of trying to maintain some consistency as a player.'' Smith said he was more nervous creeping up on James' record than when he was on the verge of his first century. His previous best score was 96 in 1988.

"I remember when I got out on 96 my grandfather had a lot to say about that,'' Smith said. "He was one of our biggest fans.'' The record stand of 220 by the Smith brothers took so long, five hours and four minutes, that it had a large bearing on the outcome of the match.

"They had a lot of stock bowlers, like Richard Basden and Janeiro Tucker who were tidy and difficut to get away,'' Smith explained.

"Clay and I batted too slowly on the first day but on the second day we weren't able to get them out under 180. Janeiro helped them tremendously, he and Andre.'' Says Clay of his ton: "In the 70s and 80s was the hardest point. I slowed up when Janeiro and Richard came on. Once I was in the 50s and 60s I knew there was no reason why I couldn't get 100 if I put my head down. I wasn't one of my better centuries.'' Somerset captain Andre Manders defended his decision to ask St. George's to bat first.

"I still think it was the right decision,'' he said.

But Manders confided later that it was his own gut feeling to want to field first and in hindsight it might have been the wrong choice.

"Well looking back at it now maybe we should have batted first,'' said Manders in his third year as skipper of Somerset. "But the decision was made and we have to stick by it, and even still I don't think we could have bowled St. George's out twice on that wicket...that's for sure.'' The west enders paid the price for not including a recognised spinner and only allowing Olin Jones and Manders -- the two slow bowlers they did have -- 12 overs between them in the first innings even though the wicket was clearly catering to turn.

"I think we could have used a recognised spinner on the two days that's for sure,'' said Manders. "I think it could have helped take the pressure off the pace and stock bowlers and we could have gotten in a lot of quick overs.'' Manders said that decisions by rival skipper Smith and politics also played a major role in the outcome.

Said Manders: "He (Smith) could have declared a little bit earlier.

"I know for a fact that a lot of the St. George's players were mad at Wendell and Clay basically because they were at the wicket for such a long time and were scoring so slow. It was like they were in a Test Match.

"Still Wendell didn't want to lose the cup and have it go back to Somerset as the club would be losing money.'' The performances of colts Jeff Richardson and Janeiro Tucker gave Somerset some reason to smile, with young Tucker performing well with both the ball and bat, while Richardson was spectacular in the field.

Tucker bowled well in both innings, taking two for 38 in the second, and he showed remarkable composure while batting at number nine, scoring 24 runs in helping Somerset avoid the follow on.

"I was scared at first, but everything came together once I got off the mark,'' said Tucker, still bubbling from his first appearance in the annual classic. "It was like nothing I had ever experienced and it helped (me) that we fielded first.'' Meanwhile middle order batsman, Richardson likewise felt he had made a positive contribution and had realised yet another goal he had set.

"I think I did a good job in the field,'' said Richardson, who made it into the Somerset team after failing in several attempts at St. George's. "I'm a batsman who doesn't bowl, so I take pride in my fielding, unlike many batsmen who give up in the field what they make with the bat.'' Despite stating that he was `no spring chicken' the 33-year-old belied his age in making several diving saves, even when the match was clearly out of hand.

"Somebody asked me if my heart was in Somerset after trying out for St.

George's and I told them that wherever I play...I play with all my heart.'' BROTHERS IN ARMS -- Clay (left) and Wendell Smith celebrate Clay's century as they head for the recordbooks.