Bailey reflects on last Wellington win

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27: This year marks the 30th anniversary of Somerset’s last Cup Match triumph at Wellington Oval.

The year was 1981 when Joe Bailey’s star-studded team thrashed Clarence Parfitt’s St George’s by nine-wickets in the east end.

Somerset piled up 377 runs in the first innings after being asked to bat and from a position of strength enforced the dreaded follow on after St George’s were dismissed for 172 in reply.

Clevie Wade delayed the inevitable in St George’s second innings, stroking a battling half -century (76) to try and save the match.

But the hosts eventually folded for 226, leaving Somerset with the simple task of chasing down 21 runs for victory.

Barbados–born all-rounder Winston Reid featured prominently in Somerset’s win, thumping a match-high 82 in the first innings and claiming four-wickets in the second.

Ironically, Somerset supporters had called for Reid’s head to roll in the lead up to the match.

Fire

Somerset skipper Bailey recalled: “Half of Somerset didn’t want Winston in the team because he had had a poor year.

“But he went down there and made 80-odd runs.

“I remember he took hold of Clarence Parfitt — one ball actually hit the telephone pole down there at Meyer’s Slip that caught fire.

“Winston and Gladstone (Sad) Brown put on a century -opening partnership (112) to give us a good foundation to build on.

“Winston also got four-wickets (four for 21) and I took two catches off his bowling.”

Bailey said another key moment in the match arrived early on the second day when Barbados-born seamer Robert Hinds, who had match figures of seven for 86, claimed two wickets in as many deliveries.

“Those two-wickets put us right back into the game and we eventually bowled St George’s out just before lunch.

“St George’s did not avoid the follow on and so we sent them back into the bat and at one stage it looked as though it was going to be a two- to- one.

“But Clevie Wade made some runs and we were forced to bat again to make 20 -odd runs for victory.

“Sad Brown (six) got out but Tyrone Smith (nine) and Winston Reid (nine) finished off the runs and we won the game by nine- wickets.”

Surprised

Bailey, whose great nephew Joshua Gilbert plays for Somerset, reckons the challengers  have assembled a team capable of ending their 30-year drought at Wellington.

“I honestly feel Somerset is stronger and I won’t be surprised if they win the match this year.

“I am very impressed with the bowlers the selectors have chosen. Somerset has the bowlers to bowl St George’s out and that to me is the key.”