Van Den Heever steers Optis home

DIVAN VAN DEN HEEVER kept his nerve while Total Cobo lost theirs along with their unbeaten record at the KGV last night. Numquam In Dubium' - or Never in Doubt - may be Optimists' motto but there were some anxious players and supporters around their bench when the South African marched out to bat in the 20th over.

His side needed 24 runs from 17 deliveries at that stage, chasing their opponents' 161 from 22 overs on a fast outfield.

Van Den Heever and Ami Banerjee had got it down to 17 required from 10 when the South African skied what should have been a straight forward catch to Jeremy Frith. But the current player-of-the-year let it slip through his fingers and the batsmen ran two.

Optimists took full advantage of that mistake and Van Den Heever scored the 10 required off Gary Rich's final over with two balls to spare to complete another cracking match between the two great rivals in local cricket.

Van Den Heever and Banerjee had also played vital roles with the ball for their side earlier in the game.

Matt Oliver and Peter Vidamour had got Cobo off to a flying start, taking 56 off the opening six overs.

Andy Biggins turned to the South African and Indian combination and it paid dividends as, firstly, they slowed the scoring rate and, secondly, took wickets.

Van Den Heever's extra pace forced Vidamour into floating a catch to square leg and Oliver soon followed when run out by a direct hit from Andre Van Rooyen, Optimists' second Springbok.

Stuart Le Prevost did not last long as the left-armer ripped out his off stump and Frith departed in the next over, nicking one to Ian Damarell off Banerjee.

From 66 for none, Cobo had slumped to 90 for four. But they still had almost nine overs remaining so Rich and Justin Ferbrache did the sensible thing - ticked the scoreboard over while not taking risks. They put on 31 before Ferbrache was dismissed.

TJ Ozanne then joined the Guernsey all-rounder and they plundered 40 runs from the final four overs as the former took advantage of an early lifeline. He finished with an unbeaten 25 from just 13 balls while Rich was 27 not out off 19.

But no matter how big the target, Optimists always believe they can achieve it.

They lost Simon Gaudion in the third over but Biggins and Mark Clapham batted excellently, showing all of their experience as Cobo sorely missed Rob Turville.

Boundaries came regularly all around the wicket and there were not too many dot balls in their partnership.

The skipper brought up a fully deserved half-century off 47 balls and the pair put on exactly 100 before the next twist in the tale.

In the 16th over with Rich the bowler, Biggins holed out to deep square leg and the very next ball Clapham was caught at deep mid-wicket.

Game on yet again it seemed, especially when Damarell went three overs from the end, but Van Den Heever brought his side home.

'It was a very big game with Cobo unbeaten, these are always big games anyway,' said Biggins.

'We thought Cobo were a bit short on bowling and we backed ourselves to chase whatever they set us, although we did not envisage it being about 160.

'But it was one of those nights when the ball was going to the boundary all the time and it was a great game to win. There is a long way still to go this season though.'