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Cobo close in on Championship title
David Piesing
Total Cobo look to be heading for the Championship title by maintaining their 100% winning record after overcoming a spirited Rovers at Port Soif on Saturday while their nearest challengers, Mavericks, lost to Elizabeth College at the College Field.
At Port Soif Cobo batted first and made 242 for 8 in their 45 overs. Remarkably, extras top-scored with 62 as the Rovers sprayed it around despite taking several early wickets. The middle order of Gary Rich (57), Ben Ferbrache (47) and TJ Ozanne (27) were the main contributors. In reply, Rovers got off to a fine start with a big opening partnership from South African star batsman Ryan Bishop and fellow opener Quinten Hubbard. They put on more than 130 for the first wicket before Hubbard fell for 55, and when Bishop was run out for a fine 83 Rovers' hopes were dashed as the run-rate started to escalate. Rovers will no doubt rue those 62 extras.
At College Field the students batted first and were soon in trouble at 16 for 3 after two early strikes from Jonny Orme. They recovered to 218 all out thanks to a fine century from Jonny Warr (114 not out) and useful contributions from Jonny Clark (25) and Will Thompson (25). Mavericks were without star batting pair GH Smit and Justin Meades and lost wickets steadily to the College attack before Tom Kimber (42 not out) gave them hope but they were finally bowled out for 190 with more than 4 overs remaining.
On Sunday at KGV, PKF Wanderers finally got off the mark for the season with a thrilling 10-run vixtory over Marlborough Trust Optimists with the result in doubt even after the start of the las over. Batting first, Wanderers scored a useful 240 for 5 in their 45 overs but on an excellent batting track it seemed maybe 20 runs below par. Openers James Warr (33) and Ross Kneller (83) gave Wanderers a solid base which was built on by Sher Khanagha (40) and Ben Driver (47). Optimists lost Mark Clapham early in reply, and when Simon Gaudion and then skipper Andy Biggins followed, it looked a big ask. However when Ami Banerjee is at the wicket nothing is ever certain and together with Mark Jefferies the island team-mates put on a big century stand, taking the score up to 186 for 3 with around 8.5 an over needed off the last 6 overs. The return of James Warr in his first game back from university proved crucial though as he firstly got Jefferies caught at extra cover for a fine 76 and then just three balls later Banerjee was well stumped by Matt Thornton for 83. The door was now ajar for Wanderers and Warr fired in a series of yorkers to pick up two wickets, completing a haul of 6 for 50 from his 9 overs, while Driver picked up two wickets at the other end to leave Optimists 10 runs short.
© Guernsey Cricket Board
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