Optimists' SA trio run riot against the champs

A RAMPANT Clubhouse Optimists side blitzed the champions in extraordinary fashion at the KGV last evening. C&W Rovers were left wondering what had hit them as they walked shell-shocked from the field having lost by nine wickets and with more than nine overs remaining.

The answer was simple - Optimists' hard-hitting South African trio.

Even without Andy Biggins and Mark Clapham, a target of 98 in 20 overs seemed unlikely to test the team in black, but the dismissive style in which they raced to victory like an express train was simply awesome.

It wasn't as if they were facing a mediocre attack either. Three of Rovers' four bowlers will be in Sussex next week playing for Guernsey against international opposition in Namibia and Bermuda.

However, GH Smit, Andre van Rooyen and Divan van den Heever take no notice of reputations and their assault on the bowling was merciless.

The two openers put on 42 in less than five overs before Smit departed and, remarkably, he had contributed all bar three of those runs.

Stuart Bisson witnessed his power at first-hand in the opening over as the South African smacked three fours before craftily taking a single off the final ball to maintain the strike.

He did not waste it either as Tim Duke saw his opening delivery bludgeoned for six as Smit moved onto 19 from seven balls.

In the Rovers skipper's next over, the same batsman launched an even bigger maximum with a devastating pull shot over mid-wicket and that was soon followed by a straight six off Bisson - it was exceptional, clean hitting.

Unfortunately, his entertaining innings came to an end one ball later, the 23rd he faced, as he attempted to clobber a straight ball and missed it.

'GH has been itching to get a bat,' said Optimists captain Elliot Green.

'He has been batting at four and has not had a decent chance because the guys who have batted ahead of him have done well, but he showed what he can do tonight.'

Van Rooyen and new partner van den Heever maintained the attack and no bowler was spared from the punishment.

Even a blow to the head from a Bisson bouncer could not stop the remaining opener, who finished unbeaten on 38 from just 22 balls. His knock included four fours and two big maximums.

Van den Heever also notched a six in his 21 not out as well as a couple of other boundaries, including the winning one that flew off a thick edge down to fine third-man.

Earlier, Rovers had been pegged back by a mixture of accurate bowling, decent pace and poor decision making.

Duke and Richard Headington, fresh from their 219 partnership against Deloitte on Friday, gave their side a solid start of 34 from five overs before both fell on the same score - Steve Queripel and van Rooyen picking up the wickets.

Queripel would also add Bisson's scalp to his tally in a miserly five-over spell of two for 14.

His replacement from the Les Blancs Bois end, Ami Banerjee, continued the good work while van den Heever produced the occasional beauty as Rovers wickets fell at regular intervals to restrict the flow of runs.

In the end, Quentin Hubbard finished as top scorer for his side with a patient 25.

'Divan and Andre bowled some very quick stuff, but someone who bowled extremely well, and who often goes unnoticed, was Steve Queripel. He did a great job for us,' said Green.

'I am really happy to have beaten the champions.'