Duke calms Rovers nerves after wobble

THE ever-impressive Tim Duke did enough on his own to beat DHS St Pierre last night. The C&W Rovers captain hardly broke into a sweat as he scored an unbeaten 76 and then claimed excellent figures of four for 14 as the opposition finished on 75 for eight.

That does not tell the whole story and it was far from a one-man show, but it does emphasise the influence that Duke has had on the Premier One leaders since he signed for them in the winter.

Rovers certainly needed him at his calm best against the severely depleted, 10-men champions last night after suffering some early jitters.

His opening partner, Richard Headington, scooped a catch to Dougie Mackay at backward square off Dave Hearse's fifth ball and in the next over Ed Benfield was sent back to the pavilion as Andy Burkhardt hit the top of his middle stump.

At nine for two and a possible upset was on the cards.

But the experienced Tim de Putron joined Duke and they showed great composure in rebuilding the innings.

Dot balls were a rarity for the island all-rounder who played most the shots in the book and found virtually every gap in the field while de Putron was prepared to bide his time and punish the bad ball.

They put on 57 for the third wicket to set their side back on track before Jody Bisson replaced de Putron and provided the acceleration in the second half of the innings.

The wicketkeeper's shots may not have been from a textbook but they were certainly effective as he struck 45 from just 28 deliveries.

At the other end, Duke brought up his deserved half century with a pushed single into the covers at the end of the sixteenth over, up to which point he had hit four fours. He would later add two successive sixes over long-on after being dropped in that position the ball before as Rovers racked up 167 for four from 19.

The reply never got going from the second ball of the innings when Justin Walker gloved a catch behind off Nick Derbyshire and Headington also got in on the act by claiming three wickets.

But the match belonged to Duke and, having already dismissed top scorer Vince Kenny, he returned for an over in which he removed Wayne Barrett, bowled Javen Isabelle first ball and then missed out on a hat-trick by a whisker as Hearse played and missed. Next ball, though, he had the island manager caught at third slip.

'It was always going to be one of those games where people rock up and do not take it as seriously as they ought to and that was the case when we lost a couple of early wickets. But once Tim came in and we had a bit of a stand we were fairly comfortable,' said Duke.