Wanderers have Boyce to thank

ANDREW BOYCE eased the PKF Wanderers jitters by guiding them to a excellent win over Romerils at the KGV on Saturday. The wicketkeeper kept his cool with the bat after a couple of worrying collapses left the home side biting their nails as they chased a modest target of 156.

Tim Belton and Spencer Noyon had both looked comfortable as they gave their team a solid start with an opening stand of 40 before the former dragged on a Nigel Crocker delivery, giving the Romerils captain the first of two wickets in a fine spell.

Suddenly, Wanderers found themselves 61 for four as Richard Veillard, Noyon and Pierre Moody followed Belton back to the pavilion and the Jersey outfit were right back in the game.

With the run-rate not an issue, Glenn Mourant and Dave Piesing patiently got the hosts back on track with a vital fifth-wicket stand of 49.

However, when both were dismissed in quick succession by leg spinner Duplessis, there was still work to be done as Wanderers required a further 41.

But Boyce and Mike Wall chipped away, using as much time as necessary to eat into the difference and brought their side to within sight of the finishing post.

After Peter Blackburn bowled Wall, Steve Birkett joined Boyce to see things through.

Earlier, Romerils' total had been founded on a typical no-nonsense knock of 44 from Mark Saralis. The opener hit seven boundaries in his 57-ball innings.

The match turned, though, with the introduction of spinners Phil Challenger and Birkett, who really pegged back the visitors and claimed three wickets apiece.

'It was a very good team performance,' said Piesing.

'The spinners, Phil and Steve, bowled really well and put the brakes on - as did their leg-spinner later on. It showed that when you take the pace off the ball it made batting more difficult.

'We had the benefit of batting all the way down the order and that was the difference between the sides.'

* TOTAL COBO were made to rue gifting Caesareans an incredible 42 wides as the defending champions lost their opening game by one run at the FB Fields.

Extras was easily the highest scorer for the home side, totalling 54 in all as the bowlers struggled desperately with their radar.

Danny Bertram, Meeku Patidar and Dave Gorman all chipped in with useful runs without anyone going on to make a big score while Gary Rich was the pick of an attack missing Jeremy Frith and Mark Culverwell.

Cobo lost wickets at regular intervals in their reply, but island players Matt Oliver and Rich kept them in the hunt with half-centuries apiece.

The left-handed opener hit six boundaries in his 52 while the all-rounder struck four fours and two sixes in his 61 made from 71 balls.

But Peter Le Hegarat could not manage the required six off the last ball.