Rich is on fire as Cobo beat the champions

IT WAS Gary Rich's night. Everything the Cobo and Guernsey all-rounder touched turned to gold as the two unbeaten top-flight sides met at KGV.

First came a hat-trick in a spell of 4 for 33. Then, as Cobo teammates on the boundary began to sweat as the run-rate crept higher with just three overs left, a blistering attack on Phil Cox swung the game.

Those six balls - the 16th over of 18 - went dot, two, four, two, six, four. Game to Cobo.

It was a cracking match, with a bit of something all the way through: wonderful batting - Glenn Milnes and Jeremy Frith stroked 50s - Rich's treble, great fielding and controversy.

Whenever Total Cobo and DHS St Pierre meet, there is always one major talking point.

Last night it came in the fifth over of Cobo's reply to St Pierre's 110 from their 18 overs with 25 for one on the board.

Frith looked short of his ground as Andy Burkhardt's direct hit from short fine leg sent the bails flying. Saints were convinced he was out.

But umpire Mike Dibben's view was obscured by wicket-keeper Paul Wakeford and couldn't give Frith out.

It is anyone's guess what might have happened had the finger been raised. As it turned out, Frith went on to finish on 53 not out in guiding Cobo to their third successive evening win.

Although it wasn't a typical Frith innings, he did bat well with his runs coming from 50 balls and including four fours. He came in after Pete Vidamour had departed first ball.

Early on Matt Oliver gave him very useful assistance with 24 including a straight six and three fours before being caught behind.

Then, after a fine, tumbling Vince Kenny catch had accounted for Stuart Le Prevost, Rich came in to plunder the necessary runs just when a close finish seemed inevitable.

Cobo needed 23 from 18 balls but that was cut to just five from 12 as Rich hammered 18 off Cox's last over, the six landing on the top of the sight-screen.

That completed a memorable match for Rich after his fourth over saw Milnes, Burkhardt and Cox fall in successive balls.

The first of those three was the vital one because the classy Milnes had looked good while others around him struggled. He made 51 at quicker than a run-a-ball including three fours.

Derek Howlett's calm contribution of 24 was the only other double-figure score in the St Pierre card as Alex Hunter could also claim a hat-trick of sorts - effecting three run outs as St Pierre lost their way.