Smoothly does it for Veillard

THE drinks were on Richard Veillard as he scored 118 not out at the KGV on Sunday. His well-structured knock ensured that his PKF Wanderers side beat C&W Rovers by 53 runs in the Carey Olsen weekend league.

Veillard was part of the island squad which played Namibia and Bermuda in Sussex last week.

He played only one match over there, but this ensured that he benefitted from

the coaching of ex-Test player Jack Birkenshaw, Guernsey's technical director.

'I don't think it was one my most fluid innings ever,' he said.

'But it was pleasing to score some runs having played only one game away on the trip. I had some nets with Jack and there were some areas that we talked about such as batting with a smoother action.

'He said that I was a bit mechanical at times, so I tried to hit more smoothly through the ball during my innings.'

The pressure was on the number three batsman to deliver as wickets fell at the other end. James Warr, who has looked good recently, went cheaply as did his opening partner Spencer Noyon.

Pierre Moody, returning to the fold after three months out with a shoulder injury, looked unhappy with his decision as he was judged lbw for three off Richard Hamilton's off spin.

Only Glen Mourant with 31 offered any real support to Veillard.

On a belter of a batting wicket, Wanderers' total of 231 should have been in Rovers' sights, but yet again they were under par with the bat.

The top order all failed with the exception of captain Tim Duke who got 69 before Mike Savage caught him at point off Steve Birkett's left-arm spin.

Mark Huntington, who usually plies his trade in Rovers' B team, hit 36 coming in at number six.

The Yorkshireman played some lovely pull shots before he was undone by Keith Le Cheminant.

Rovers' last five wickets fell for just 14 runs as they were bowled out with four overs left.