MCC exact revenge for defeats

THE MCC have obviously not taken kindly to being beaten on their last couple of visits to Guernsey. Yesterday, the visitors fielded a strong, youthful XI that were up for this encounter with the island side right from the off and they deserved their comprehensive 70-run victory.

From Guernsey's point of view, it was a disappointing start to their season but nothing to be too worried about.

It is a very rare occasion that this side's batting fails to fire and it should make them all the more determined not to let it happen again this summer.

The major disappointment, as Dave Hearse alluded to, was the lack of any substantial partnerships - the highest being 43 between Jeremy Frith and Andy Biggins.

This Guernsey side knows the importance of working in pairs but on this occasion they did not make it happen.

Earlier, the bowling and fielding had been patchy.

Debutant Nick Derbyshire made the early breakthrough as he responded to being pulled for four by digging a quicker one in which Andy Patterson miscued to Frith at square leg.

Left-handers Ben Debenham and Mark Everett consolidated well though and added 108 for the second wicket and both made fifties.

The partnership was eventually broken when the opener holed out to Pierre Moody at long-off off Gary Rich and Everett soon followed as he attempted a quick single to Ami Banerjee at point and lost out to a direct hit.

However, Martin O'Reilly and Nick Gilbert kept the momentum going for the visitors, adding 75 in a brisk stand and taking their side past 200 in the process.

A late flourish from Mark Patterson helped get the total up to a testing one for Guernsey, for whom Derbyshire was the only bowler to take two wickets.

The reply did not start well with Tim Duke cutting a catch straight to backward point and things remained tight until the introduction of left-arm seamer Ed How, who produced the best spell of the match.

Matt Oliver went in his first over to a return catch and he would later claim the vital wicket of Banerjee.

Stuart Le Prevost then went for a duck to the spin of Dan Beynon to leave Frith and Biggins left of the top six with only 71 on the board.

The Cobo man batted well for his 42, but when he was trapped in front by How's final delivery it signalled the beginning of the end. The skipper departed soon after for 26 and the final four wickets fell for just 32 runs.