Smit gets the nod - Deloitte win again

THERE were no surprises as Dave Hearse yesterday confirmed his starting XI for Saturday's inter-insular at the King George V Field. As widely predicted, he has decided to play hard-hitting batsman GH Smit instead of bowlers Pierre Moody and Aaron Scoones.

Smit in his first season on Guernsey, will make his inter-insular debut alongside fellow South African Andre Van Rooyen, whose solid performances in Scotland and Sussex with the island side ensured his inclusion.

'Smit has been a proven hitter this season,' said Hearse.

'Andre bowled well on tour and he is very fit and is one of our best fielders. Pierre didn't make it because he hasn't played enough cricket mainly through injury and the weather when he was fit.

'As for the rest of them, they are all in form and all have performed in the island games and I'm very pleased with the attitude of the squad as a whole.

'I think I have picked the best-balanced team for the day.'

The team will be led out by captain Andy Biggins, who will form the backbone of the batting with Smit, Matt Oliver, Stuart Le Prevost, Jeremy Frith, Ami Banerjee, and Tim Duke. The last three will also be called upon to bowl with Van Rooyen, Divan van den Heever and veteran off spinner Gary Rich.

Justin Ferbrache will don the keeper's gloves and Rovers' Stuart Bisson will carry out the 12th man duties.

Hearse himself was in action on the cricket pitch last night as his DHS St Pierre side came unstuck against Division One minnows Deloitte at the King George V Field.

St Pierre batted first and posted 117 off 20 overs with top scorer Carl Le Tissier hitting a typically brutal 45 off 35 balls.

In response, Dave Clark's men were cruising thanks to an opening stand of 94 by Simon Huxtable and newcomer Rory Hills, who arrived on the island three months ago from London.

They then experienced a slight wobble as Hills, Finn and Huxtable, the latter on 59, went in quick succession with 13 runs still to get.

But a quickfire 17 from Pete Inniss saw them home as he hit a massive six off Isabelle to finish the game.

'I'm chuffed with that,' said Clark at the end of the game.

'Hopefully that has given us more of a chance to stay up.'