Optimists make it three from three against Cobo

CLUBHOUSE OPTIMISTS have made it three wins out of three this season over Total Cobo. So far in 2006 they have beaten their great rivals in the Dave Fisher Memorial Trophy, Barclays Evening League Division One and now in the Carey Olsen GCA Championship.

Their victory by 33 runs at the KGV yesterday helps stake the claim that they may well be the main team this year instead of Cobo, who many had tipped at the start of the season to grab all silverware on offer for their Rockmount trophy cabinet.

'Three out of three, who would have thought of that at the start of the season?' said Optis captain Mark Jefferies.

'We're playing together as a team. We thought our score was under par so the boys put some extra effort in the field.

'We held our catches, squeezed the game and we took wickets at important times. Winning is a habit once you are on a roll.

'We just want to keep playing good cricket.'

After winning the toss, Jefferies decided to bat and Mark Clapham and Tim de Putron again got their side off a good start by putting on 77 before the latter was caught by Robbie Moore in the deep off James Mullen.

A slight wobble followed as Ami Banerjee went for 10 and Jefferies and island captain Andy Biggins also went cheaply.

But a quick fire 25 from Jamie Chambers, which included a massive six off Gary Rich's off spin, along with 22 from Ian Damarell got them over the 200 mark. Optis' cause was helped by a total 34 extras from Cobo as seamer Kris Moherndl struggled particularly.

Even without the services of the injured Jeremy Frith, Cobo would have fancied Optis' total on the flat KGV wicket, but the early fall of Matt Oliver, who went for two, and Pete Vidamour and Robbie Moore both going in the teens put the pressure on Stuart Le Prevost. The Cobo captain had to use a runner due to a strained hamstring but this did not hamper him too much as he looked in good touch.

However, he went for 38, lbw to Jefferies' off spin. There was a question as to whether it was too high.

TJ Ozanne, coming in at six, made a good fist of things playing in his usual cavalier way until he departed for 44 when he chipped Jefferies to Rob Byrne at extra cover. With that went Cobo's chances as Moherndl, who played some elegant shots, along with Blane Queripel were content to see their team get over 180 for an extra bonus batting point.

'We bowled too many extras,' said Le Prevost. 'If you take in consideration the extra balls, in theory it's another 40 runs we gave them.

'Before we went out to bat we would have taken 215 to chase and if we had applied ourselves better then we might have got it. But full credit to them.'

n In Saturday's championship match at the KGV, Wanderers posted 263 against Mavericks thanks to 113 not out from Richard Veillard.

In response Mavs were all out for 166. Simon Huxtable hit 100 for the losing side.