Bermuda: Mid-summer Classic goes west

Somerset Cricket Club captured the 2000 Cup Match in convincing style after defeating champions St. George's Cricket Club by six wickets at Somerset.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, St. George's could only score 192 with Dean Minors (36), colt OJ Pitcher (33) and Dexter Smith (27) the main contributors. Hasan Durham confirmed his status as the island's number one spin bowler with 5-37.

In their first innings reply, Somerset found themselves in early trouble at 29-4 but some disciplined batting on the part of Kwame Tucker (33), Janeiro Tucker (60) and Wendell White (93) were able to overcome the six-wicket haul by left-arm paceman Gregg Foggo. Somerset declared 46 runs ahead having posted 238-9.

In the second innings, it was another spin bowler who ruined the dreams of the east-enders - Dwayne Leverock. He claimed 5-45 as St. George's capitulated to 151 all out leaving the west-end side only 106 to win.

After losing two quick wickets, veteran batsman Dexter Basden (40*) and wicketkeeper Kwame Tucker (29) guided the team to an easy victory. The poor application of the St. George's batsmen combined with controlled bowling and good fielding on the part of Somerset was the story of the match.

The last Somerset victory in 1996 was followed by a St.George's win in 1997 and sets up next years 100th Cup Match perfectly.

Somerset Cricket Club - Albert Steede (captain), Dexter Basden (vice-captain), Curtis Jackson, Wendell White, Janeiro Tucker, Hasan Durham, Dwayne Leverock, Kwame Tucker, Irving Romaine, Leon Place (colt), Francis Richardson (colt), Jacobi Robinson (reserve), Stephen Outerbridge (reserve)

St. George's Cricket Club - Herbie Bascome (captain), Dean Minors (vice-captain), Dexter Smith, Eugene Foggo, Mark Ray, Charlie Marshall, Graham Fox, OJ Pitcher (colt), Cleon Scotland (colt), Ryan Steede, Gregg Foggo, Mackie Crane (reserve), Robert Fox (reserve)

Cup Match is the all-star game of cricket in Bermuda. This two-day holiday match has been played for 99 years and has its origins in the emancipation of slavery. It is a game between clubs from opposite ends of the island.

Somerset Cricket Club represents the west and St. George's Cricket Club the east. Both clubs have trial matches in which they select their final squads on the Saturday prior to the match. Cup Match takes place on the Thursday and Friday before the first Monday in August every year.

If there is one match that represents the best of Bermuda and Bermudians, it is Cup Match. Thousands of spectators take in the atmosphere not only on the field, but around it as well.

The Cup Match trophy is so sacred that a replica is presented to the winners. The official trophy resides in a vault in one of the island's banks. If the match is drawn the cup-holders retain the trophy.

For more information go to www.cup-match.com.