Wanderers hit top spot

PKF WANDERERS sat proudly on top of the Carey Olsen Championship table on Saturday evening as the weekend season finally got under way at the KGV. An opening partnership of 101 between Jeff Martel and Gary Tapp, both of whom reached a half-century, ensured that Dave Piesing's side would comfortably reach their 162 target against Randy Paddle Mavericks.

With both sides under strength, the Wanderers skipper was particularly happy to get a first win of the season under their belt.

'I'm very pleased, especially with us having 10 of our 16-strong squad unavailable for this game,' Piesing said.

It was he who won the toss and decided to bowl in sunny but breezy conditions and on a true pitch prepared by Alan Hamilton.

Simon Huxtable looked in good nick at the top of the order for Mavericks against the opening attack of Keith Le Cheminant and Mike Savage, especially through the off side where he drove well and also accumulated several runs through the point region.

At the other end, though, he lost partners at regular intervals.

Vince Kenny leant back on an attempted drive and got a edge to Mike Wall and the wicket-keeper then took a neat chance standing up to Savage to dismiss Martin Gray.

The introduction of spin, particularly Steve Birkett, slowed the run rate down and frustration eventually cost Huxtable his wicket.

He swung across the line to a full-length delivery from the slow left-armer and was trapped plum in front.

The unfortunate dismissal of captain James Falla a few overs later, when he was run out backing up, left Mavericks reeling at 66 for four.

John Bullock and Scott Lee were also back in the hutch before their side reached treble figures but Karl Ogier had started finding the boundary after a cautious start and the board was beginning to tick over.

Channel Islands over-50 all-rounder Ralph Anthony gave him good support and together they put on 55 useful runs, with Ogier reaching a deserved half-century as he accelerated towards the end of his knock.

He eventually fell in the penultimate over of the innings for 55 from 75 deliveries including seven fours and was the main contributor in Mavericks' 161 for seven.

Had early wickets gone down, that target would have tested Wanderers, but Martel and Tapp ensured that did not happen.

The former island player, unsurprisingly, was the aggressor, relying mainly on boundaries in his 54 having pulled a hamstring the night before playing for St Saviour's. in the win over Deloittes. He hit nine fours.

Anthony took a fine catch out at deep square-leg to break the partnership, but the damage was done.

Martel pushed on to his own half-century and finished unbeaten on 69 from 101 balls and was accompanied by Piesing at the end after Lee had yorked Mike Veillard.

'It was a target that could have got us into trouble if we had lost early wickets,' Piesing said.

'Gary went in to have a hit because of the fielding restrictions and because he could not run and it worked well. I told Jeff to stay there and see it through if he could and he did just that.'

Falla said there were positives to take out of the game for Mavericks.

'We needed to get more but I was quite pleased to get 160 - at least it was a competitive score.

'But Tappy had a go from the off and gave them the start they needed. I wonder how many teams will be using the ?pinch-hitting? tactic this year.

'On the plus side, we got a team out, got a few points and showed we can compete.

'But unless we get more bowling, we are going to have to score a lot more runs,' he added.