Pessimists open with a victory

A PARTNERSHIP of 121 warmed the cockles at a bitterly cold KGV last night. In sunny but chilly conditions, NRG Pessimists eased to a 28-run victory over Aon St Saviour's thanks to the second wicket stand between student James Warr, who stroked 57, and 63 from new signing James Battersby.

The former Police Club player had been playing in Premier Two last year, but he looked a fine bat as he bludgeoned his score from just 45 balls.

'He's a good player,' said his new captain Dave Piesing.

'He's a too good a player to be in the lower divisions.

'He's a great acquisition.

'It was nice to see James Warr get some runs as well. He hit some delightful drives.'

Whereas Battersby plundered St Saviour's' rather pedestrian bowling, Warr timed some classical front foot shots. Both the players settled into a rhythm and before long captain Richard Veillard had the field spread out trying to save runs.

This proved fruitless as after 10 overs Battersby and Warr had posted 106 for their team with the former reaching his 50 with a nice flick of his legs.

Warr got to his 50 soon afterwards with a full-blooded cover drive, but he was out a few balls later when Simon Fisher caught him in the deep off the bowling of Andy Maiden.

Battersby followed his young partner in the next over as he was well caught by Mike Veillard at long on and the Pessimists run-rate slowed up as they lost a succession of quick wickets.

St Saviour's had 139 to beat off 17 overs for victory and they never looked like to doing it, even against a Pessimists bowling attack missing Pierre Moody.

Both openers, Neville Scott and Spencer Noyon, fell cheaply and a lot depended on their captain Veillard, who was undone by Piesing's leg spinners when caught by Warr on the boundary for 23.

Despite some little flourishes from Andy Good and Fisher at the end of their innings, with Good taking a particular liking to Glen Bradshaw's bowling, Saints' innings faded away.