This Is Guernsey

By Gareth Le Prevost

Cobo opening bowler Peter Le Hegarat sends down a ball at the KGV last night, watched by umpire Martin Gray. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0604886)

COBO remain unbeaten in Barclays Evening League Division One – just.

St Saviour’s, the only side to inflict defeat on Stuart Le Prevost’s men in their title-winning campaign last season, gave the champions an almighty fright last night and took them to the last ball in the KGV gloom.

Blane Queripel hit that delivery for four to see his side home along with Mark Renouf, but Cobo barely deserved it after an abject display, particularly in the field where they were generally pretty dreadful.

By contrast, Saints, who were without danger man Ben Taylor among others, knew they had nothing to lose and simply gave it a go. Mike Thornton led the way with a positive half-century, facing just 36 balls for his 55 and hitting a couple of maximums to go with his two fours.

Ross Kneller chipped in with a useful 24 and Ben Driver continued his excellent season with 45 from only 30 deliveries faced as Saints rattled up 161 from their 20 overs.

Jeremy Frith was easily the pick of the Cobo bowlers with his three for 34, including two vital return catches to dismiss Kneller and Thornton.

Queripel claimed the other three wickets to fall.

The Cobo captain, who has been short of runs of late, promoted himself to open and looked out of sorts early on before a straight four seemed to get him into his stride.

But that was short-lived as he sliced a catch to point.

Matt Oliver has had no form worries of late and looked set to take his side to victory in no time as he raced to 35 from 18 balls with three fours and the same number of sixes.

However, he then surprisingly mistimed one to mid-off and TJ Ozanne followed soon afterwards to add to the butterflies in Cobo stomachs.

Frith steadied the ship with an well constructed 50 and the batting side were favourites again needing 35 from six overs with seven wickets in hand.

There were more twists to come, though, as Jamie Ferbrache took a fine catch at short fine leg to dismiss Frith and he was followed back to the KGV pavilion by Peter Le Hegarat and Gary Rich.

Crucially, Renouf and Queripel kept their heads with 14 needed off the final two overs and saw their side home.

‘It is a good job that we bat a long way down the order,’ said Le Prevost.

‘Blane and Renno certainly got us out of a hole tonight.’

Article posted on 11th July, 2008 - 2.29pm