Scriven the catalyst as Taverners open with win

THE KGV may have avoided forecast storms last night, but just a few overs into the crucial 'relegation' tussle, Division One new boys Deloitte were in the eye of a storm of their own. DB Taverners, inspired by debutant Justin Scriven, were flying at 10 runs an over and setting early season records.

Scriven hit high and straight as Gary de Carteret went for 14 in an over and Latif Khankashi was punished for 17 in the next.

The half-century partnership came up in the sixth over but Scriven suicidally ran himself out next ball and Deloitte were able to exert a degree of control for the rest of the innings.

Skipper Robbie Moore also ran himself out and the middle order struggled against change bowling - newcomer Jim Goodwin making a useful impression - as the run rate slowed to a crawl until Andrew Boyce and Andy Orme hitched the score over three figures in the last of the 16 overs.

Deloitte had a chance when they took to the crease, and a confident partnership of 43 between Bertie Salt and Dave Clark still offered a glimmer of hope.

Taverners needed a wicket to restore control and got it when Salt was run out trying to take a sharp leg bye to the keeper.

The rest of the newly-promoted side's batting was not up to the challenge of making eight an over for the second half of the innings and Taverners held their boundary catches to make sure of an ultimately comfortable win.

Deloitte skipper Paul Finn admitted that Taverners was a game his team would have preferred to avoid first up, especially with star player Justin Meades not due to return to the island until the weekend.

But he was happy enough with his team's recovery on the night.

'The Taverners openers were the difference between the sides really,' he said.

'Once we got them out we slowed it down quite well. At one stage I thought we might end up chasing 130 and so I was quite happy with 100. But we were always struggling once we lost a wicket.'

Moore said he was pleased at the way his team had responded for such a crucial game. He said he was now hoping for a brighter season than last year, where Taverners only avoided relegation on run rate.

'I definitely feel we can progress. I have confidence in our bowling, but we've got to work a bit more on our batting. I hope we can be looking at mid-table rather than relegation.'