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PKF Wanderers scrape home in GCA Cup Semi-Final
David Piesing
In the first of the season's Carey Olsen GCA Cup Semi-Finals, PKF Wanderers made heavy work of passing Total Cobo's score of 180 all out in 50 overs.
Cobo were in action for the second day running after their CI Championship final on Saturday and were missing 2 or 3 unavailable players, but their young side rose to the occasion and put up a brave fight. Batting first after winning the toss, Cobo slumped to 75 for 5 after Wanderers' new signing, seamer Sher Khanagha, ripped out their top order with a devasting spell of 4 for 20 in his first five overs on debut. Gary Rich (42) and Jamie Nussbaumer (45) repaired the damage with a partnership of over 80 before Nussbaumer holed out to the long-off boundary, which opened the way for Khanagha to come back and polish off the tail, finishing with 7 for 37 from his 10 overs, six of which were clean bowled.
In reply, Wanderers got off to a flyer as the runs came thick and fast, largely from wayward bowling. Although the 50 came up in the 9th over, Wanderers had already lost openers Will Thompson and Tim Belton, and were soon three down as Khanagha became Blane Queripel's second victim. Skipper Richard Veillard continued his recent good form though, and put together two vital partnerships, first with Pierre Moody (19) and then with Dave Piesing (19) before Veillard fell to young Adam Robin's second ball for a fine 54 on a difficult pitch. Piesing then stuck around to add another 20 with Steve Birkett, who had to curb his natural attacking instincts. Piesing went leg-before to Kris Moherndl for 19 off 62 balls, and it was left to Phil Challenger to see his side home with Birkett, Challenger hitting the winning runs off the last ball of the 49th over. Birkett made an invaluable 12 not out from 51 balls, but with an asking rate off just 2 an over from the last 10 overs, Wanderers merely needed to bat out the overs to win the game, and had no need to take any risks.
Cobo conceded a remarkable 61 extras, including 38 wides, which was clearly a decisive factor in the result.
In the other semi-final, Clubhouse Optimists play Randy Paddle Mavericks next Sunday.
© Guernsey Cricket Board
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