ENGLAND may have lost to Brazil in the morning, but those fans who made their way to the County Ground last Friday (June 21) found plenty to cheer about when Somerset's cricketers beat the highly-rated Sri Lankans in a one-day match.

The turn-out was disappointing, but those who attended witnessed a convincing and historic victory, the first by the Cidermen over Sri Lanka.

The match was sponsored by Somerset County Cricket Club patron Christopher Ondaatje, who, over the years, has been a generous benefactor to the club and whose donations have helped establish the Centre of Excellence at the ground.

He was delighted with the way the match went, and after the close of play he said: "It's been really fantastic for me to have been here on such a truly wonderful day and to have sponsored the first Patron's Trophy match against Sri Lanka, the country of my birth.

"I'm certain this is the start of a really thrilling one-day cricket series in England."

Earlier in the day, Mr Ondaatje met the players from both sides, and presented each team with an engraved silver salver and three engraved Golden Jubilee goblets, all specially commissioned, as a record of the special occasion.