Optimists snatch title

OPTIMISTS TWO leapfrogged from third to first place to claim the Reserve One title last night. In an anti-climatic title decider, Andre Bisson's men were convincing winners against Total Cobo Reserves at the Memorial Field.

Optimists needed the victory in this, the final game of the division's programme, to claim top spot by one point from both their opponents on the night and DHS St Pierre B. If Cobo had avoided defeat, they would have been crowned champions.

But everything went right for Optimists from the time their skipper won the toss and inserted the opposition.

Immediately Miles Dobson was on the spot with his big in-swingers and the Cobo batsmen just could not get him away.

The former Guernsey opening bowler conceded a miserly eight runs from his five-over spell and claimed the wicket of Tony Ayton, who was bowled with a trademark Dobson delivery that hit the base of the stumps.

At the other end, Nick Chambers dismissed danger man Paul Butler in his second over, James Adams taking a juggling catch behind the stumps, and he also proved economical.

Sean Romeril and stand-in captain Keith Batiste hung around for a while but they had trouble increasing the run-rate and the frustration led to the run out of the youngster in the 10th over with the score on just 33.

Batiste was to follow soon, bowled by his opposite number.

South African Pieter van Staden gave the inning some impetus with his unbeaten 24 from 20 balls, including a huge six into the tennis courts and Ian Robert supported him with 12 not out but a total of 78 from their 17 overs was disappointing foar Cobo.

Optimists reached their target with the minimum of fuss; only Andrew Chambers lost his wicket, caught at mid-off.

His son Nick (30 not out) saw the side home with Mike Still (27 not out) and it was the Guernsey under-25 player who finished it off with a delightful flick off his legs for four with three and a half overs to spare.

Meanwhile, at the KGV, the Premier One programme was completed with Aon St Saviour's defeating NRG Pessimists by three wickets in a fixture where both sides decided to shuffle their packs and give everyone a game.