Brilliant Banerjee sees Optis home

YOU could not have asked for a better game. Two of Guernsey's oldest rivals fighting it out for the prestigious trophy and the final had everything - excellent batting and bowling at times, some fine fielding as well as some crucial mistakes and a nerve-racking finale.

Optimists were the side to come out on top and it was a performance of amazing character from them, but Total Cobo will feel that this was a golden opportunity wasted.

When you have a side 35 for five chasing 181, you really should come out on top. But then, when you do not take the chances offered to dismiss Ami Banerjee, you are made to pay the ultimate price.

The Indian's quality is unquestionable - he is arguably the best player in the Channel Islands - but this was probably the most determined knock he has played since arriving on these shores.

His whole manner was one of a man eager to see the job through and when he acknowledged his half-century there was a definite aggression in his gesture that emphasised that he was not finished.

His 12 boundaries, including one six, were majestic as he punished anything loose with cuts, pulls and drives.

The chances he did give were certainly tough ones - a couple of edges as well as a full blown cut and a middled off-drive - but no batsman would have made an unbeaten 97 on that track without a little bit of luck.

That final chance came from the last delivery of the match.

TJ Ozanne had done a decent job after being asked to bowl the final over having not appeared in the attack previously.

With Optimists needing five to win, he conceded just one run in his first four balls before Steve Queripel worked a full toss through backward square for three to tie the scores.

Cobo would have won on the fewer wickets lost rule if no more runs were added.

Banerjee then drove the final ball above Gary Rich's head at mid-off. It would have been a fine jumping catch by the Cobo man but the ball went to ground and the single was run to Optimists' jubilation.

The last-wicket pairing along with Divan van den Heever (21) and Mark Clapham (14) had been the only batsmen to reach double figures for Optimists as the majority of the Cobo attack did an excellent job.

Liam Smyth really stood out as he claimed four for 17 from his 10 overs and he was well supported by Mark Culverwell (one for 24) early on.

Spinners Rich and Jeremy Frith also bowled tidily and the off spinner deserved his three wickets, but Rob Turville, who has had a very good season, struggled early on and then bowled his second spell carrying an injury.

Earlier, Cobo's 181 for seven had been founded on a fine opening partnership of 50 between Pete Vidamour (18) and Matt Oliver (37) and then built upon by Stuart Le Prevost (43) and Rich (32).

Elliott Green produced a superb spell of two for 10 with his off-spin while Banerjee, van den Heever and Andy Biggins were all economical.