Banerjee shows he is a class apart

AMI BANERJEE emphasised that he is a class apart from other cricketers in the island with an outstanding century on Sunday. Optimists racked up a mammoth 277 for four on their way to a 55-run victory over Rovers at the KGV and the little Indian maestro was the star of the show.

On a flat track that produced almost 500 runs in the game, Banerjee effortlessly stroked the ball to all corners of the ground as he displayed his full repertoire of shots during an innings that lasted three minutes shy of two-and-a-half hours.

His timing was impeccable as he struck 13 boundaries in his 115-ball stay at the crease before finally being dismissed for 102, caught behind off Nick Derbyshire.

'Ami is the best player in the island and he emphasised that with a superb hundred. It looked like batting practice for him out there and he always looked like he would get a hundred,' said Optimists captain Andy Biggins.

In the early stages of his innings he was well supported by Mark Jefferies who made a solid 44 in a second-wicket stand of 116.

After the opener had been sent back to the pavilion, Biggins belted a rapid 77 including 10 fours and a six and featured in a partnership worth 106 with Banerjee to ease their side to maximum batting points in the 40th over.

The Rovers cause in the field was not helped by the loss to injury of Aaron Scoones.

He split the webbing on his hand early on and that meant that there was no variety to their attack.

Although Optimists' huge total was never in danger of being surpassed by a Rovers side missing Richard Headington, Andy Mountford and Richard Hamilton, the opposition batted sensibly and claimed maximum batting points themselves.

The main contribution came from island all-rounder Tim Duke, who accumulated a classy 73 at quicker than a run a ball, and good support came from stand-in opener Stuart Bisson, who fell one short of a half-century.

Unsurprisingly, the pick of the bowlers was Banerjee who took three for 34 in his eight-over spell.

'After the defeat to Mavericks in the first game of the season, it was important to get back on track with a win,' Biggins said.