Cobo edge into final

TOTAL COBO came close on Saturday to blowing the best chance they will get of beating Sporting Club Francais - but they scraped through. A very tense, low-scoring encounter at Grainville between two of the premier sides in Channel Islands cricket was won by the Sarnians with two balls to spare to knock the holders out of the CIKO.

Cobo had to thank the eighth-wicket pairing of Rob Turville and TJ Ozanne who saw them home in the final two overs after the home side had produced a rousing fight-back in the field.

Although it was a very difficult pitch to bat on, SCF were disappointed that their strong line-up could not muster more than 128 all out.

In a five-man attack that had four bowlers with senior island caps, it was the odd one out that was the hero early on for Cobo.

Liam Smyth produced an excellent six-over opening burst from the bowls stadium end during which he removed both of SCF's dangerous openers.

First to go was Mathew Hague, who had looked in good nick with his 12 runs coming from three boundaries before the tall youngster got him pushing forward at a good-length delivery and Justin Ferbrache took a brilliant, one-handed diving catch low to his right.

Steve Carlyon followed in Smyth's next over as he played on from a back-foot defensive shot to make the score 21 for two.

Only one more run had been added when an opportune bit of work from Ozanne at mid-wicket ran out Ben Silva who was standing just outside his crease after those behind the stumps had gone up for a leg-before appeal.

The trouble worsened for the batting side when Turville replaced Smyth and claimed the scalp of Trevor Rousseau in his first over, caught and bowled.

But the big wicket was to be that of SCF skipper Tony Carlyon. He was in determined mood and looked to be positive despite the tricky conditions. Cobo played safe by having a man out at deep cover to restrict him to ones and twos rather than boundaries.

Turville then should have had his man in the 18th over with the score on 50 when Carlyon got underneath a slower ball and hit it straight up in the air, but Ozanne at extra cover put down the simple chance.

Carlyon and Dave Morfee pushed the score up to 83 before the captain was dismissed.

Spinners Jeremy Frith and Gary Rich found the wicket to their liking and the latter exploited it particularly well. It was he who got rid of Carlyon with a full delivery that got through the batsman and knocked over his castle.

Morfee then went from the support act to senior player and batted very well with little assistance. He lost partners regularly, with Frith, Rich and Smyth claiming wickets, but his 38 from 70 balls was well crafted and very valuable.

He was the penultimate man to fall as he played and missed to Rich, but he deserved the ovation he received.

The off-spinner, who finished with excellent figures of four for 19, wrapped up the innings with more than five overs left, Stuart Le Prevost taking a fine diving catch at short square leg.

The reply started in such a fashion that it seemed Cobo would romp home.

Matt Oliver was his normal, aggressive self and rode his luck at times in a brisk 28 including a couple of fours and a big six over square leg.

He and Alex Hunter added 42 in 10 overs before both fell on the same score.

Hunter was the only wicket for Steve Carlyon while Oliver decided to leave a Tony Carlyon delivery that clipped the top of off stump.

The brothers bowled very well in tandem but it was Steve that was the pick of them with a masterful display of medium-pace bowling.

His 10 overs cost just nine runs and only four deliveries were scored off from the bat.

Much of his spell was bowled to Frith who was strangely subdued while, at the other end, Peter Vidamour played a sensible innings, picking off the occasional loose ball and being the main contributor to a partnership of 38.

But when Frith was dismissed for eight, pulling a short ball straight to mid-wicket, the wheels began to fall off.

Martin Higgins also claimed the wickets of Le Prevost and Ferbrache while Vidamour was trapped in front by Hague for 35. Cobo were suddenly 95 for six and SCF were in the ascendancy.

Turville and Rich nudged the score slowly up to 117 but the nerves in the Cobo camp were rattled once more when Morfee took a fine return catch to dismiss Rich.

That left Turville and Ozanne still needing 12 to win off two overs.

Rousseau produced three dot balls at the start of his final over as the tension increased but Turville kept his head to then work a two, flick a vital four to fine leg and then conjure up another two through mid-wicket.

It was then down to Ozanne against Morfee with four needed to win from six balls.

The first delivery was pulled for two but the next almost resulted in a run-out as Turville rightly sent his partner back after an edge to gully. Paul Carberry came up with a direct hit but the batsman survived.

Ozanne connected well with the third ball but it was hit straight at mid-off.

However, the clincher was shortly to come as he drove the fourth ball over the top of the same mid-off fielder for four and Cobo had booked their semi-final place.