Jenner is Sarnians' scourge

WARD JENNER'S well-worked century steered Jersey to victory in yesterday's over-40s inter-insular. With Guernsey odds-on to retain the trophy after having reduced Jersey to 183 for nine with five overs remaining as they chased 214, the number three clicked into gear to get the last 32 runs.

'I really didn't think at any stage that we were going to win,' said man of the match Jenner whose 103 came off 114 balls.

'It wasn't easy. The bowling was tight and Dave Hearse bowled really well and Gary Rich is always difficult to face.

'It was difficult on that pitch to get the bowling away. Eventually it got to the stage where you had to get boundaries and that is when it seems you do. It was quite good and I enjoyed it.'

Openers Richard Headington and Pete Vidamour got Guernsey off to a good start with a partnership of 53 and Carl Le Tissier carried on the good work with a typically bludgeoning 41, but a bit of a wobble followed as the hosts found themselves at 176 for eight.

A low order partnership from Mark Renouf and Dave Hearse pushed the total to 214.

Jersey's reply was interrupted for half an hour as the overcast skies finally gave way to rain.

At the time the visitors were 35 for one with Dave Buxton the first to go, lbw to Keith Le Cheminant. This brought Jenner to the crease, who took his time to get going, but once in looked in imperious form especially when he dispatched anything pitched up on his legs to the leg side boundary.

With Jersey's other dangerman Dave Gorman going for 20 and wickets falling regularly, the game was starting to look out the visitors' reach.

It did not seem their day when Jenner smashed a drive back down the track at Headington who touched the ball onto the stumps to run out Douglas at the non-striker's end.

When Barry Middleton was bowled by a Rich arm ball and number 10 Evans was run out by Rich going for a second run, Guernsey just needed the one wicket for victory.

Seizing the responsibility, Jenner kept Tom Gales off strike and reduced the requirement to 16 from two overs.

Le Cheminant conceded five off the penultimate one, leaving Headington defending another 10.

Jenner hit the shot of the day off the Rovers' man first ball - a six over long on - and the next two went for two easy runs on the off side. With the scores level, the field was brought in and Jenner cleanly hit the fourth ball straight at Rich at mid on, who could not get a hand to it as it struck him in the chest and the batsmen scampered through.

It was a cruel way to end it.