Tucker steers holders Somerset out of trouble

SOMERSET, Bermuda, CMC – Veteran Bermuda all-rounder Janeiro Tucker dug Somerset, the holders, out of trouble with an unbeaten half-century as he masterminded a recovery against St George’s on day one of the historic two-day Cup Match here on Thursday.

Somerset, who are chasing a third successive victory, head into the final day trailing by only 45 runs with six wickets in hand, having compiled their runs more sedately than their opponents.

Tucker, 41, who says he plans to retire from the annual match – the highlight of Bermuda’s domestic cricket calendar – after this year’s edition, finished the day on 76 not out.

He struck 11 fours and faced 132 balls, as Somerset replied to St George’s 230 for nine declared with 185 for four, scoring at just under 3.50 runs an over.

Tucker, who has compiled the most runs in the fixture first played between the two clubs at either end of the island in 1902, and Stephen Outerbridge (49) added 113 for the fourth wicket after pace bowler George O’Brien struck three early blows to reduce the hosts to 36 for three.

O’Brien claimed Outerbridge’s wicket as well to finish the day with four for 46 from 13 overs.

But there was no stopping Tucker, who has taken his Cup Match aggregate to 1,454 runs in his 30th innings. He also has the highest individual score – 186 – in the 114-year history of the fixture and tops the batting with an average of more than 57.

His four Cup Match centuries have all come at St George’s Wellington Oval ground.

Second in the all-time batting averages is former Somerset batsman Colin Blades, a Barbadian. He finished with an average of 49.54 from 16 innings.

Opening bowler Malachi Jones led the way for Somerset with five for 52 from 13.3 overs. His opening partner Greg Maybury took three for 57 from 12 overs.

Tucker has played 26 One-Day Internationals and featured during the historic 2007 Cricket World Cup which was hosted in the Caribbean for the first time.