Hearse off mark as MCC are beaten again

DAVE HEARSE has his first win as island cricket manager. Guernsey came out on top of a cracking game against the MCC at the KGV by eight runs, holding their nerve in a wonderful climax. And the most pleasing thing for the new manager was that every one of his side played their part.

At one stage it looked as if victory was going to come easily as the visitors were reduced to seven for two after eight overs chasing 214, but that was not to be the case.

The day had the ideal start for the hosts as Andy Biggins won the toss and asked the opposition to bowl in the blazing sunshine.

Tim Duke and Richard Headington must have been slightly surprised with the mixture of deliveries served up by the opening attack of Paul O'Reilly and Richard Spink.

Sometimes they would produce an absolute beauty but then follow it by firing one down leg-side. The visitors actually ended up bowling an incredible 26 wides.

Duke still managed to pick off a couple of boundaries - one shot through extra cover was particularly emphatic - while his partner was happy to be patient.

They put on 29 before the Pessimists man edged a very full delivery to first slip where David Ward, the former Surrey player, took a sharp catch.

Guernsey then wobbled slightly as Ami Banerjee and Jeremy Frith were both dismissed without scoring. The Indian got a fine off-cutter from Spink and the Cobo player flashed one to Ward in that same first slip position. The home side were 43 for three and in a degree of trouble.

But there is no better man to walk in at that situation than Biggins.

He played himself in for a few balls before taking the attack to the opposition. He unleashed a fierce off-drive for four, a drive through the covers for three and then a pull over square leg for another boundary.

Then when spinner Mark Dixon was brought on, Biggins greeted him by launching a six over mid-wicket.

Things were starting to look really good for Guernsey at 122 for three with 18 overs remaining, but then the skipper had a rush of blood, took a horrible swipe at Peter Edwards and was bowled for 43.

Stuart Le Prevost also took to Dixon after playing himself in, hitting 10 off his final over included two well-timed fours. But he was undone by Spink's first ball back - another big off-cutter.

All this time, Headington had been content playing the anchor role and his innings was to prove vital. He can still play some outstanding shots when the right ball comes along - one short-arm pull for four was particularly sweet - but it was his determination to hang around that made it such an excellent contribution.

The Rovers man brought up a deserved half-century with a cover drive for three in the 43rd over before finally succumbing for 63 in the 47th.

That left Gary Rich, Pierre Moody and Matt Jeffery to contribute crucial runs at the death. The final pairing put on an unbroken 24, half of which came from the final two balls of the innings - Moody hammering two sixes.

The MCC's reply started badly as dangerman Ward had his middle stump knocked back by Mark Renouf in the first over.

When Will Sellar sliced a catch to Le Prevost to give Jeffery the wicket he warranted for an impressive opening spell, Guernsey seemed to be cruising.

But a calm third wicket stand of 88 between left-hander Ben Debenham and Martin O'Reilly brought the game back to life.

Then, after Moody had dismissed the opener for 40, Nick Gilbert joined O'Reilly in a stand of 81 with both batting well, finding the gaps seemingly with ease and putting a few worries in Sarnian minds. Needing 34 from the last four overs, the MCC were in with a decent chance.

But Frith eventually did the trick, turning one passed the oncoming O'Reilly, who had scored 87, for Justin Ferbrache to whip the bails off.

Gilbert was to finish on 54 not out but also on the losing side as Frith and Rich closed the game out backed up by some good fielding.

'I am very pleased with everyone. I was pleased to see us put a good score on the board when both Ami and Frithy haven't scored and then we bowled and fielded well and held our nerve - it is good to start with a win,' said Hearse.

n*In Barclays Premier Two Paul Finn cracked a fifty as Deloitte & Touche A overhauled the target set by Independents at Port Soif.