Michael Corday, the Somerset selection chairman, believes that the Cup Match champions have chosen a team capable of achieving victory on their home turf this year.

As expected, Somerset made only two changes from last year’s squad with colts Steven Bremar and Kwasi James replacing Kamau Leverock and Derrick Brangman who are both unavailable this year.

“We are satisfied this team is capable of winning the cup,” Corday said. “I think the selectors made a wise choice based on all things considered and the options at our disposal.”

Somerset were forced to make at least two changes as Leverock is playing in Britain while Brangman is serving a one-year Bermuda Cricket Board ban for breaching its Code of Conduct.

Bremar, a solid middle-order batsman, and James, an all-rounder, had solid displays in Somerset’s final trial match.

Middle-order bat Bremar virtually picked himself with an attractive innings of 61 from 79 balls with nine fours and a six for the Vice-President’s XI.

“Steven’s knock was very impressive,” Corday said.

“He batted his way into the team, I think it was that simple.”

James, who also featured for the Vice-President’s XI, only managed three runs at the crease but earlier produced a tidy spell with the ball that went a long way towards tipping the scale in his favour.

He claimed one for 42 from 13 overs that included three maidens during the first innings in which the President’s XI posted 288 for eight declared.

“James bowled in the right areas, was difficult to get away, and didn’t give up many runs, and has been doing that pretty consistently throughout the season,” Corday said.

Jeff Richardson, the Somerset coach, added: “We went with a fifth bowler because our intention is to try and win the match.

“We are not going to lose it by any means. But we want to be seen at least trying to win it which is what this game is about.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise on the night was the omission of Deunte Darrell, who many predicted would be recalled this year. The all-rounder produced a decent bowling spell during the first innings but misfired with the bat as he only scored six runs for the Vice-President’s XI, who were poised at 155 for seven when stumps were pulled thanks to Bremar’s brilliant innings.

“I think that the guys that really could’ve made it difficult for us didn’t really do enough,” Corday said.

Another surprise omission might have been that of 17-year-old all-rounder Dalin Richardson, who struck an unbeaten century that helped lay the foundation for the President XI’s total.

The Somerset all-rounder blasted 15 fours and two sixes in a superb innings of 100 from 129 balls and featured in partnerships of 53 with Tre Manders (46) and 88 with Malachi Jones (72) as the President’s XI recovered from a precarious 67 for four.

Richardson’s fine effort was not totally ignored, however, as he was named a reserve along with Southampton Rangers seam bowler Sheldon Caesar, who also made his presence felt during the final trial match.

Caesar claimed brilliant figures of four for 43 from 11 overs that included two maidens after being brought into the President XI’s attack as first change.

Also picked as a reserve for the second straight year was Alje Richardson, son of Somerset coach and former Cup Match batsman Jeff, who stroked four fours and a six in a knock of 25 from 31 balls facing the new ball for the President’s XI.