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A look at how Somerset performed at Cup Match 2007 by James Whittaker.

Hasan Durham

1 for 52 from 9 overs, one catch, did not bat

A tough initiation to the art of Cup Match captaincy for Durham, who saw few of his gambles pay off on the opening day. The decision to let St. George's have first crack at a placid batter's track seemed dubious to begin with. All the more so, after Chris Foggo and Oronde Bascome had put on 89 for the first wicket.

Then again, had Jacobi Robinson and Kevin Hurdle ripped through the top order, we might have been hailing it as a stroke of genius.

As it was, the Somerset bowlers, including Durham, had little to cheer on day one and the constant tinkering with the field in an effort to eke out the required wickets made for a very slow over rate - something the west-enders could have done without.

Friday was a better day for the skipper as the big bats justified his pre-match claim that Somerset were not simply a bowling team and had the firepower to match St. George's.

Janeiro Tucker

87 runs, 0 for 5 from one over

Another great innings from 'Mr. Cup Match' injected some excitement into the closing stages of the classic as the game headed for a draw.

Tucker opened his shoulders and played his shots, tearing the St George's attack apart as he belted 87 from 56 deliveries.

His late fireworks display, in partnership with Dean Stephens, woke the crowd from its afternoon slumber. Tucker deserves credit for providing some entertainment in a game that was going nowhere and for that reason he could be Pitcher's main rival as this year's MVP.

He now trails Albert Steede by three to be Somerset's all-time leading runs scorer in Cup Match and needs 42 to join the 1,000 run club.

Dwayne Leverock

Did not bat, 2 for 79 from 16 overs

Another quiet Cup Match for the big man who bowled tidily enough, picking up a couple of wickets.

In a game where bat dominated ball his figures were pretty reasonable, but the east enders seemed to have the measure of Somerset's bowling attack and he didn't peg the batsmen back as well as he has done internationally.

But, like all the bowlers, he was on to a loser from the off on a glorious batting track.

Malachi Jones

2 for 61 from 14 overs, 15*, one catch

Looked the man most likely to make a breakthrough on Thursday and it was no surprise that he was the one to get rid of both openers.

Bowled with plenty of variety and enthusiasm, always seeming a potential wicket-taker.

Joined the party with a brief unbeaten cameo with the bat to conclude another respectable classic for the teenager.

Jacobi Robinson

3 for 62 from 15 overs, 26*

Similar to Jones, Robinson mixed it up with the ball and was always in the hunt for wickets, even as St George's piled on the runs.

His figures of 3 for 62 were the best in the game and when you look at the men he got rid of - Clay Smith, Charlie Marshall and Lionel Cann - those stats look even better.

Played a brief, impressive knock with the bat, bashing a quick 26 not out. The young all-rounder has been drafted into the national squad - recognition of his improvement this season - and will be looking to step it up even further when Bermuda face Denmark tomorrow.

Azeem Pitcher

43 runs

Steadied the ship after the loss of Outerbridge to provide Somerset with the solid platform that allowed the big hitters to go out and have some fun.Like his namesake OJ Pitcher in the St. George's team he played the more measured, patient innings - a perfect foil for the more explosive talents around him. He might have liked to go on and nail a big score after such a good start but his luck ran out when he was caught by Oronde Bascome off the bowling of Borden.

Jekon Edness

25 runs, one catch

After a solid 25 at the top of the order Edness came to a sticky end chasing a widish delivery he could easily have left alone.

But other than that moment of madness he played a sensible knock that suggests he could have the talent and the temperament to make the opening role his own - not just for Somerset but for the national team too, where he will likely renew his partnership with Outerbridge against Denmark tomorrow. Did a decent job with the gloves, giving away only a handful of byes.

Kevin Hurdle

1 for 52 from 10 overs

Somerset's game plan depended on early wickets from Hurdle and the pacy opener was unable to deliver.

The pitch did him few favours and Oronde Bascome and Chris Foggo batted resolutely, making a tough job even tougher for the World Cup seamer. He did come back in spectacular fashion on day two to deny OJ Pitcher his hundred, shattering the batsman's stumps.

Stephen Outerbridge

0, one catch

After waiting all day to get into bat, fielding on the long-off boundary, listening to the banter from the crowd, Outerbridge must have been itching to get out and score some runs. But when his time came, his innings lasted just two balls - spectacularly caught behind the stumps by Chris Foggo. He took a neat running catch to dismiss Rodney Trott at the tail-end of the St. George's innings but other than that it was a pretty uneventful game.

Dean Stephens

57 runs, 0 for 13 from 4 overs, one catch

Finally brought his club form to the big arena with a swashbuckling half-century. The pressure was off with nothing to play for but pride in the final session, but this was still a big innings in a big-match atmosphere.

Stephens reproduced his blazing form from the trial game, dispatching the ball to all parts of the ground as he raced to 57 from 44 balls. His chance to impress with the ball was limited to just four overs.

Derrick Brangman

12, 0 for 15 from 4 overs

The youngster looked the part during his brief stay at the wicket on Friday evening, before being trapped leg before by George O'Brien with his innings still in its infancy. He looked to have plenty of confidence and appears to have the tools to be a decent Cup Match player in the future.[[In-content Ad]]

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