January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Spinners disappoint as Somerset falls easily
A combination of injuries, loss of form and some selection gambles that didn't pay off this time around left the challengers humbled on their home patch.
There were some bright spots but the overall picture was decidedly gloomy.
Here's a look at how each player performed and where it all went wrong for Somerset.
Janiero Tucker, 31
Batting: 26 and 43
Bowling: 0 for 25 and DNB
Catches: One
If there was one man that could have pulled Somerset out of the mire, it was Tucker. He dug in with a determined 43 in the second innings and while he was still at the crease no-one in the St. George's end was taking anything for granted, even with the top four bats back in the pavilion. Coming out after lunch on day two, Somerset's diminishing hopes depended almost entirely on Tucker. But when Delyone Borden had him caught behind a few minutes into the afternoon session the game was up, and Tucker knew it. The disappointment was etched all over his face as he trudged slowly back to the pavilion. He didn't have a bad Cup Match personally, but he didn't provide the captain's innings he would have wanted to.
Dwayne Leverock, 35
Bowling: 0 for 32 and 2 for 17
Batting: 2 and 14
Catches: One
We had to wait till after tea on the last day to see Sluggo celebrate a wicket. But when he did, he did it in style, with a stump twirling routine worthy of a majorette!
Before the game, skipper Tucker, admitted that with an inexperienced seam attack he needed big performances from his two senior left-arm spinners.
He didn't get them, with neither Leverock or Durham taking a single wicket in the first-innings as St. George's amassed 335. Admittedly conditions were better on day two when Delyone Borden worked his magic, but this was not Sluggo's Cup Match. He dug in obstinately with the bat and looked surprisingly lithe in the field, though.
Saleem Mukuddem, 34
Batting: 17 and 64
Bowling: 2 for 74 and DNB
Catches: None
Held the second innings together while wickets clattered around him. Mukuddem played patiently and at times threatened to bat his side back into the game.
If it hadn't been for his determined half century Somerset could well have been facing an innings defeat.
But his hopes of a third century in four Cup Matches were shattered when Delyone Borden had him stumped for 64, hammering the final nail into Somerset's coffin.
Mukuddem has not been in the best of form this season but he showed, with this display, what a gritty competitor he is, as well as a class batsman.
He took two wickets in the first-innings but was pretty expensive, going at a rate of more than five an over.
Malachi Jones, 16
Bowling: 2 for 40 and 0 for 17
Batting: 6 and 36*
Catches: One
The youngest player in the game, Jones had a decent introduction to Cup Match.
He was quick and aggressive, though he bowled a few too many short balls.
It was a big task to fill Kevin Hurdle's shoes but he did a good job for his team and did not give away many cheap runs.
He took a great catch to get rid of Clay Smith and swung the bat effectively in the second innings to help give St. George's at least some kind of target to face.
His performance helped him seal elevation as a first team national squad selection. No doubt there is more to come from Jones.
Jacobi Robinson, 21
Batting: 7 and 7
Bowling: 1 for 46 and 1 for 26
Catches: None
With Kevin Hurdle out and the two senior spinners not taking wickets it was up to one of Somerset's young seamers to step up.
Unfortunately, Robinson did not produce the goods.
The Somerset seamer ran in energetically throughout but could not provide the penetration needed to get rid of the top order batsmen - something his opposite number George O'Brien did with devastating effect for St George's,
He showed glimpses of ability with the bat but rashly went for the big shots when a more circumspect approach was required in the second innings.
Dean Stephens, 25
Batting: 21 and 0
Bowling: 3 for 56 and 0 for 14
Catches: One
The silent assassin ripped through St George's middle-order taking the key wickets of OJ Pitcher and Charlie Marshall and denying both the chance of a century in the process.
He also scalped Dean Minors, clattering the stumps of all three, with his dangerous left arm seamers.
But that purple patch on day one was the only spell of success for the colt, who was pasted around the park at a rate of six an over.
He struck an entertaining 21 in the first innings but didn't trouble the scorers second time around and would have expected to do better with the bat.
Stephen Outerbridge, 23
Batting: 54 and 13
Catches: One
Gave his team a good start while notching up his maiden Cup match half-century in the first innings.
But he couldn't go on and make the big score his team needed after St. George's had posted such an imposing total.
That said, you can't complain at 54 from your opener and it was down to the more experienced players in the middle order to build on the platform he had provided.
Disappointed with 13 in the second innings but continues to mature as an opening bat.
Hasan Durham, 34
Bowling: 0 for 49 and 0 for 1
Batting: 1* and 8
Catches: None
Like spin partner Leverock, Durham failed to produce when it counted on day one.
A big fat zero in the wickets column for the two senior spinners explains why St George's were able to amass such a big first-innings total.
True, the ball turned more on the second day, but that just makes the decision to put St. George's into bat all the more confusing.
If Somerset were going to bowl the east enders out for a low-score they needed wickets from their spinners and they simply didn't produce.
Dion Stovell, 20
Batting: 0 and 12
Catches: None
Hyped up before the match as one of the most exciting prospects in the last decade and a future national team opener, Stovell didn't live up to expectations.
Trapped lbw by George O'Brien in the first and the victim of a superb catch from Charlie Marshall, off the same bowler, in the second, Stovell will have to chalk this one down to experience.
He remains a huge talent and there are surely more Cup Match's to come but this was not his year.
Azeem Pitcher, 26
Batting: 29 and 4
Catches: None
Another disappointing Cup Match for Pitcher. He did okay in the first-innings before throwing his wicket away, but failed to withstand the pressure as Somerset struggled second time around.
More was expected of him from the crucial number three position in the batting order, particularly with the added advantage of playing on his home turf.
He'll need to get runs for the club side if he is to figure again next year.
Jekon Edness, 22
Batting: 6 and 17
Catches: None
Stumpings: None
Was upstaged with the gloves by his opposite number Minors who rubbed it in by pulling off a superb stumping to dismiss the young keeper in the first innings.
Edness kept tidily enough but wasn't able to pick up any dismissals.
He did contribute with the bat, though, hanging in there with a sensible and mature knock of 17 in support of Mukuddem in the second innings.
It may not sound like a lot of runs but he did exactly what he had to do - stick around.
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