Rovers and Guernsey all-rounder Tim Duke held his nerve and conceded just four runs off the final over as his side beat Grant Thornton yesterday at Port Soif, but he was guilty of dropping a couple of chances in the field. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0575675)
GRANT THORNTON’S juniors gave Rovers a scare last night at a wintry Port Soif. Chasing 138, Grant Thornton looked out of it at 60 for five in the 12th over in conditions more suitable to football at the Rovers’ ground.
That was until Ben McVey and Matt Renouf took advantage of some pretty dismal Rovers bowling and fielding to see their team fall just 10 runs short. ‘The youngsters nearly saw us home,’ said Grant Thornton captain Simon Huxtable.
‘They did really well and they are getting better each match. I’m sure we’ll get some more victories next year.’
Rovers had looked like they were on for a massive score as their two danger men, Tim Duke and especially GH Smit, got stuck into their opponents’ bowling attack.
They had put on 24 in three overs before Duke fell to Neil Fitchet’s part-time medium pace.
Smit and Robbie Le Corre put on 40 before the big South African followed soon afterwards, again to Fitchet.
Rovers lost momentum without Smit at the crease and as they kept losing wickets, their effort was very stop-start.
Captain Stuart Bisson looked good for his 29 but went while in full flight to a great catch on the boundary by young Adam Bullock off the bowling of Kane De Carteret.
The home side tentatively got to 138 in the last over with one wicket left.
Fitchet and leg spinner McVey were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each.
In reply, Grant Thornton lost three early wickets and with the talented Clark brothers, Adam and Jonny, not playing, winning looked a big ask.
But McVey, coming in at number seven, and Renouf, at eight, had different ideas and with a mixture of orthodox shots and some more imaginative ones, they set about their task.
Rovers certainly helped their opponents’ cause with some suspect fielding.
Island all-rounder Duke was guilty of dropping a couple of easy chances.
However, needing 34 to win off the last two overs, money was against Grant Thornton.
But when McVey proceeded to dispatch Guernsey seamer Bisson for 19 off the penultimate over, their odds shortened.
Unfortunately for Grant Thornton and for the neutral spectator, McVey and Renouf could not repeat that magic in the final over bowled by Duke.
Despite winning, Bisson was not a happy skipper afterwards.
‘We’ve gone from our best all-round performance last week against St Pierre, where all 11 performed, to our worst performance of the season,’ he said.
‘Struggling for consistency is the reason why there’s no silverware down at the club.
‘Fitchet put in the best all-round performance of the game and McVey and Renouf hit the ball well at the end.
‘But we bowled in bad areas.’
In the other Division One game of the night, second-placed Corinthians eased past Optimists by nine wickets thanks to 65 from teenager Tom Kirk, who hit four sixes.
Article posted on 9th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
Loading ...
Most Commented: