Queripel's work not ruined despite jitters

HIS teammates almost gave Blane Queripel a heart attack last night. The young fast bowler produced his best spell in top-flight cricket in claiming six for 22 against Aon St Saviour's before the Total Cobo batsmen tried to undo all his good work.

Saints kept plugging away throughout, but even they must have wondered how they managed to keep the unbeaten side from scoring the winning runs until the penultimate ball of the 24-over contest.

At 44 for one chasing a modest 132, Cobo were cruising with captain Stuart Le Prevost and the in-form Jamie Nussbaumer at the crease.

But the introduction of Phil Challenger helped bring the batting side's momentum to an abrupt halt and one can only guess at what the result would have been had he not had to end his spell due to injury.

During his three overs, he claimed two for nine. His first wicket was that of Nussbaumer, trapped in front, before Robbie Moore hit a long hop straight to short fine leg when it should have been deposited in the car park.

Top scorer Le Prevost then holed out to long off and, in the same Chris Pringle over, TJ Ozanne gave a simple chance to point to make it 84 for five.

Gary Rich and Justin Ferbrache got their side back on track before the latter was out in identical fashion to Moore, but Mark Renouf joined the island all-rounder and guided Cobo home.

Earlier, Mark Culverwell gave his usual, reliable performance and picked up the important wicket of top scorer Spencer Noyon in his two for 21. However, it was Queripel who shone with the ball.

He later admitted that he took time to settle - 'the ball was jagging about quite a lot,' he said - but he bowled with good pace and ripped through the Saints middle-order.

Three of his wickets were bowled, two caught behind and one leg before as the sky blues were dismissed with 10 balls of their allotment remaining.