Hildreth relief at ending 14-year wait for ‘bridesmaids’ Somerset

As James Hildreth prepared to score the winning runs at Lord’s on Saturday, he paused, took in the atmosphere and smiled. It had been 14 long years since Somerset’s last major trophy. And, just as he had done then, Hildreth would seal the victory.

“It’s just a special feeling,” he said. “I was absolutely loving it. It’s why you play, isn’t it? For these kinds of moments. You want to win trophies and win with your mates and that’s exactly what happened.”

Once the Royal London One-day Cup had been clinched, Hildreth felt “relief, strange – it was like, ‘ Wow, we’ve won’. It was quite bizarre. The bridesmaids for so many years. We’ve got the best support in the country, so it’s great to do it for them. They mean a lot to us”.

He added: “It’s a strange feeling because we’re standing up at the front there and thinking what do we do? Normally we’re head in hands – it’s just a relief that we’re able to win.”

The puzzle is why it has taken Somerset so long. Since 2005, they had been runners-up 10 times in different competitions.

“It’s a frustratingly long time,” said Hildreth, whose unbeaten 69 underpinned Somerset’s smooth chase of 245. It feels like we should have had a few more in between, but I’m so glad we got over the line.”

Glory: James Hildreth hit the winning runs for Somerset

It was apt that Hildreth scored the winning runs: not just because he was the sole link with the Twenty20 Cup triumph in 2005, but because few cricketers have served Somerset with more distinction. Across all forms, he has now played more games for Somerset than anyone else.

“I suppose it’s a proud moment thinking of all the people who have played for Somerset and you’ve managed to represent Somerset more than anyone else – it’s great,” he said.

With the county top of the championship, Hildreth may be among the first Somerset crop of players to lift the title come September.

Yet amid the West Country joy, there was a little sadness, too. This was scheduled to be the last One-day Cup final at Lord’s – Trent Bridge has the rights to host the next five editions – and the tournament is being downgraded because of the Hundred.

The two competitions will now run alongside each other, so only players who do not attract the attention of franchises in the Hundred will continue playing for their counties in the 50-over tournament.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” Hildreth said. “It’s great that we got the opportunity to play in it, but it’s sad in a way because you want other guys to experience it in the future.”