Lee Savident (left) and Tim Duke take a break in their first-wicket stand of 136 at KGV. (Pictures by Steve Sarre, 0792616)
LEE SAVIDENT hit a majestic unbeaten century last night as Rovers emphasised their title credentials with a convincing win over the champions at the KGV.
Stuart Bisson’s men were more comfortable winners than the 12-run margin suggests and that was largely thanks to the former Hampshire all-rounder.
Although a couple of difficult chances out on the boundary were put down late in the innings, in truth Cobo had no answer to Savident, as few sides would have when in this mood.
His island teammate, Gary Rich, bore the brunt of one Savident onslaught when he took 22 from the off-spinner’s first over and Rich did well to come back and allow only 23 from his next three.
Savident’s strokes were both effortless and brutally powerful and his timing was sweet throughout as he brought up his ton in the final over of the Rovers innings, having faced 68 deliveries.
He hit 12 fours and two sixes.
Tim Duke provided the ideal foil, contributing 34 in an opening stand worth 136, before Rovers finished on 145 for one.
That was still eminently gettable for a side with Cobo’s batting line-up, but their reply never looked like reaching their target.
Captain Matt Oliver went first ball, hitting his straight drive well only for Bisson to parry it skywards and then take the catch at the second attempt.
Kris Moherndl looked in the best touch of the Cobo top order, making a neat 22 with four boundaries before he also fell to Bisson.
Rovers’ early fielding was distinctly average and Justin Meades, in particular, led a charmed life with several chances going to ground, but the bowling remained tidy and wickets kept falling at regular intervals.
It was thanks only to Luke Nussbaumer’s two big sixes late on – one of which nonchalantly caught in front of the Dyslexia Day Centre by spectator Jack Batiste, showing several of the fielders exactly how it should be done – that pushed Cobo towards the opposition’s score.
But those lusty blows were too little, too late.
‘Catches don’t win matches,’ said a grinning Bisson afterwards.
‘We bowled well and although we put several chances down, myself included, we showed we could win without being at the top of our game in all areas.
‘Obviously Lee batted superbly and put us in a position to win the game. The fact that he reached his hundred was the icing on the cake.’
At Port Soif, Corinthians put in a good all-round display to inflict a second defeat of the season on Optimists.
Scorecards belowBarclays Wealth Evening League: Cobo well beaten at KGV; Corinthians win
Article posted on 19th June, 2009 - 2.29pm
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