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Wanderers shock Rovers
David Piesing
Many people fancied Air Search Rovers, boosted by several new signings, to challenge Cobo for the Championship this year but an opening 7-wicket defeat by last year's basement boys, PKF Wanderers, will have dented those aspirations. Indeed it could have been worse for Rovers who recovered from 108 for 9 to 156 for 9 after a spirited last wicket partnership.
Inserted by Wanderers' skipper Ben Driver, Rovers quickly lost both openers to left-arm seamer Ben Taylor (3 for 28). Richard Headington fell lbw to a full-pitched delivery and young Robbie Le Corre was bowled by a beauty. New signing GH Smit, last year's GCA Player of the Year, was joined by fellow island all-rounder Tim Duke, and the pair took the score to 59 before Duke edged Mike Savage to be well-taken by Andrew Boyce standing up. Smit also fell to Savage, hammering the ball to Driver at short midwicket who took a stunning catch, and when Rovers' skipper Stuart Bisson was also bowled by Savage (who took 3 for 27), Rovers were in the mire. Wickets kept falling and it wasn't until Luke Nussbaumer was joined by last man Leo Rice that Rovers were able to put together a sizeable partnership. The pair batted sensibly and batted out the overs, potentially giving their side a score which might test Wanderers.
Wanderers' opening pair of Driver and Spencer Noyon got stuck in and took the score to 40 before Noyon clipped Bisson to square leg. This brought Ross Kneller to the crease and although Driver fell lbw with the score on 80, Kneller scored freely and in partnership with Taylor (29), took his team to the edge of victory before Taylor was run out. Kneller ended up undefeated on 65 as Wanderers got home with 6 overs to spare.
© Guernsey Cricket Board
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