CIKO Cup – Semi-Final
St Ouen’s 189 for 7 in 40 overs
Optimists 190 for 4 in 33.4 overs
St Ouen travelled to Guernsey to take on Optimists at KGV. Unfortunately, due to an overnight storm the
game was moved from something the resembled a mud bath to the all weather
wicket. The game was reduced to 40
overs aside and started late at 12.00.
St Ouen’s lost Martin Amy early on when he decided to go over the
top and was caught one handed by Biggins at mid off. Richard Gomersall then joined Rob Tewkesbury who was already into
his stride. His timing was excellent
and he provided that he was very unlucky to be left out of the Senior Island
side the previous week. He moved
quickly into the forties with 8 fours before Kinder was introduced into the
attack and trapped him leg before.
Gomersall (20), Craig Douglas (2) and Mark Tribe all struggled against
Kinder and Van Der Heever who between them bowled 16 overs taking 2 for 37
runs.
At 28 overs St Ouen had only 99 on the board with Guernsey’s Hero
of the Senior Inter-Insular, Bannerjee into his second over. However, the St Ouen middle and lower
order took on the Indian and South African, Van Royan, with quick fire
partnerships to push on. The last over
from Van Royan went for 19 with Tribe (56) hitting him for 2 large sixes. Between them Van Royan and Banerjee conceded
108 runs in 16 overs.
At lunch a score of 190 to win looked a defendable total and with
Paul Horton reeling of 3 maidens the pressure was being applied. At the other end Jeffries hit 4 boundaries
before Karl Moyse bowled him with one that went back up the slope bowling him
neck and crop. The Indian danger man,
Bannerjee, came in at three and looked confident pushed runs all-round the
wicket without any fuss until Dave Parry got under skier at mid wicket off the
bowling of Richard Gomersall. When
Craig Douglas removed Biggins with one the shot along the ground the game was
in St Ouen’s hands. But after the
drinks break Van der Heever (63*) and Gaudion (45*) put together a match
winning partnership with the help some generous bowling that took the game away
from St Ouen’s, Van der Heever finishing the game in style hitting a straight
6.
St Ouen won the
toss and elected to bat with an approach every bit as bright and breezy as the
cool conditions.
Rob Tewkesbury's 47 minutes at the crease gave the visitors a solid foundation
as he made 44 off as many balls, including eight boundaries.
Craig Douglas and Richard Gomersall added just 22 runs before being dismissed
as the memories of St Ouen's promising start evaporated.
However, Mark Tribe's 93 minutes at the crease at least enabled St Ouen to set
Optis a competitive target.
Tribe hit five boundaries, including two sixes, eventually returning to the
pavilion having made 56 off 79 balls.
Tribe's was the last wicket to fall, but his middle-order team-mates were
unable to support his efforts significantly. St Ouen made 189 for seven off the
reduced 40 overs.
Optis opener Elliott Green hit five impressive fours but precious little else
in his 48-minute spell at the crease, making 23 off just over double that
number of balls. Opening partner Mark Jefferies went for just 12.
Inter-insular hero Ami Banerjee then made 19 and Biggins three as Optis were
left faltering at 63 for four.
Enter van den Heever and Gaudion and Optis had secured their place in the final
against Cobo a little under two hours later; the former made 63, the latter 45.