Island's most explosive batsmen and a leading performer last year were omitted on Saturday night.

St. George's caused the biggest stir by dropping last year's captain Clay Smith as `payback' for leaving the club to join St. David's while Glenn Blakeney -- MVP just two years ago -- was also axed.

Three players who scored half centuries on Saturday earned places in the teams, with Cleveland's Curtis Jackson getting the nod at Somerset after smashing 64 from seven fours and four sixes for the President's XI in a match that was reduced to 40 overs per side following a 1.55 start because of rain.

And Irving Romaine sensationally held onto his spot after scoring 24 in a third wicket stand of 85 with Jackson. Romaine, a colt last year, looked set to be dropped after not even being included in the final trial match because he was off the Island.

But a call to him on Saturday morning sent him to the ground where he batted well enough to suggest to the selectors that he should be retained. Not so fortunate was another colt last year, Sammy Robinson, who was dropped after a four-ball duck. Last year Robinson scored 63 on his debut, the 10th highest score by a colt in Cup Match.

Also out of the Somerset team is the injured Charles Swan and his Willow Cuts team-mate Kevin Fubler as the west enders chose Hasan Durham, Dwayne Leverock and Del Hollis as their three spinners.

West Indian Wendell White, who suffered some punishment at the hands of Jackson as he was smashed for two sixes in one over, got the nod for the vacated new ball spot as he and Jackson are the two colts. Richard Basden, as expected, was recalled.

At St. George's, former captain Clevie Wade and Dexter Smith were both recalled after knocks of 52 in the last trial match. Both players are in their late 30s, but their experience will be useful in a team that will also contain 17-year-old Chris Foggo, rated as one of the Island's top up and coming young batsmen. He will opening the innings with Smith.

The other change sees Clarkie Trott making a belated return, a year after being overlooked in favour of Ryan Steede who finds himself back out after just one year. The fourth player dropped was spinner Eugene Foggo who failed to convince the selectors he has sufficiently recovered from a recent fractured hand. An easy dropped chance off Lionel Cann probably sealed his fate.

The selectors also overlooked David Adams as Foggo's replacement, so Arnold Manders will do the brunt of the slow bowling with his off spinners.

Youngster Mackie Crane had one of the best performances of the players at the trials, scoring a brisk 34 in the tailend and then holding two good catches and taking a wicket. He was named reserve along with OJ Pitcher for St.

George's while at Somerset, Leon Place, who joined their league team this season to improve his chances, is reserve with Rahji Edness.

Teams St. George's: Herbie Bascome (capt), Charlie Marshall (vice capt), Chris Foggo (colt), Dexter Smith, Mark Ray, Arnold Manders, Dean Minors, Lionel Cann, Gary Brangman, Charlie Trott, Clevie Wade. Res: OJ Pitcher, Mackie Crane.

Somerset: Albert Steede (capt), Dexter Basden (vice capt), Curtis Jackson (colt), Richard Basden, Janeiro Tucker, Irving Romaine, Kwame Tucker, Wendell White (colt), Hasan Durham, Dwayne Leverock, Del Hollis. Res: Leon Place, Rahji Edness.