10 things we learned about Cup Match

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3: James Whittaker takes a look at ten things we learned from this year’s Cup Match…

There’s no substitute for class

As others crumbled under pressure, Lionel Cann, showed why he is the key man for St George’s and Bermuda right now.

His audacious counter-attacking innings of 49 not out was the pivotal performance in the game.

The east enders were staring defeat in the face when Cann strode to the wicket on Friday afternoon. But a measured start followed by a flurry of boundaries took the home side to victory in a nerve-racking finale.

Two day cricket doesn’t have to be boring

After four draws in succession this was a game that revived the faith of even the most jaded spectator.

Tumbling wickets, star performances, fortunes that swung wildly and most importantly – a result.

There were many fans on either side this year who admitted they would rather see their opponents win than suffer another stalemate. They got what they asked for and more. Perhaps one of the most exciting games in the history of the event.

If you’re good enough, you’re old enough

There were some raised eyebrows at the amount of youngsters in Somerset’s squad.

But it was the rising teenage stars that shone for the challengers.

Joshua Gilbert — the 17-year-old spinner in his third Cup Match – almost single handedly turned the game. Five wickets for a handful of runs in a superb spell of slow bowling demolished St George’s top order on day two.

There were cameos too from Kamau Leverock, who struck 43, and opener Terryn Fray who looked solid with the bat and sharp in the field.

Damali Bell made a decent start to his Cup Match career for St George’s also.

Fitness pays

MVP Stefan Kelly stood out not just for his pace and accuracy. The 22-year-old fast bowler showed amazing stamina to bowl marathon spells without sacrificing line and length.

Kelly wore down Somerset with his relentless on-the-spot seam bowling, his ten wickets proving crucial to the victory. He bowled 24 overs in the second innings carrying the brunt of the work with Justin Pitcher out injured.

St David’s boys rule the roost

St George’s may give the east enders its name but, for now anyway, St David’s gives it its engine.

Once again it was the islanders that shone. Justin Pitcher took five wickets on day one to wipe out Somerset for 97, Stefan Kelly won the MVP award for taking ten wickets in the match and then Lionel Cann sealed the deal with a game-winning knock on Friday night.

Graft over glamour

Cann’s fireworks may have left the crowd in raptures but it was the more measured approach of openers Fiqre Crockwell and Jason Anderson that laid the platform for the victory.

In a game where runs were few and far between their half centuries were arguably as valuable as hundreds in any other year.

Both deserve credit for keeping their heads, while others were out attempting hollywood shots.

Tailenders can be as influential as an opener

As Somerset’s top order crumbled it was left to tailenders Kevin Hurdle and Joshua Gilbert to show them how it’s done.

The pair batted sensibly in both innings sharing a crucial 53-run partnership, the highest of the innings, on day two. The stand helped push St George’s victory target from double figures to a testing 148 and, were it not for Cann’s heroics, could have won Somerset the match.

Captains should trust their wicket-takers

Somerset were dead and buried when Joshua Gilbert came onto bowl on day two. St George’s was just one wicket down and required 78 for victory.

By the time he had finished a mesmeric spell of slow bowling they were six down and on the brink of defeat.

But it took just one bad over from the youngster as Lionel Cann counter-attacked before he was pulled from the attack. With the ball gripping and turning it might well have been worth the risk for the challengers to stick with their game-changing slow bowler.

Cricket is now a contact sport

The amount of shoving, jostling and finger jabbing over the two day Cup Match was more reminiscent of a football match.

Only the players know how good natured the sledging was but there were times when players on either side overstepped the boundaries between verbal intimidation and physical confrontation.

Cricket, long revered as the gentleman’s game, is it seems, following the path of other sports.

The record books can wait

Lionel Cann may have earned all the plaudits for his game-winning innings. But he fell agonizingly short of becoming the fifth man in Cup Match history to pass the 1,000-run-mark.

He needs just 13 more next year to make the mark. It’s hard to see the selectors not giving him chance to do so.

Janeiro Tucker didn’t have his most memorable Cup Match. But he edged closer to the all-time record and now needs 92 to pass Charlie Marshall.