Biggins bounces back with 'ton'

ANDY BIGGINS made a timely return to form hitting an unbeaten century in Optimists' GCA Championship defeat of Elizabeth College at the College Field. The island captain has had a fruitful season so far in the evening league, but in the longer version of the game he was only averaging 7.5 runs a match before the weekend.

Questions were being asked about his technique, especially when he scored only four and eight against Bermuda two weeks ago.

But he silenced the doubters with a patient ton against a good College bowling attack that was led by rising star Peter Le Hegarat.

'It wasn't very fluent,' he said.

'The first 50 came off 80 balls but the second 50 came off 40. Although I had been scoring runs in the evening league, the Bermuda games came at the wrong time for me.

'I needed a bit of time in the middle on grass.'

Runs from 14-year-old Adam Hindle, Ami Banerjee, GH Smit and Mark Jefferies helped Optis post a total of 226. In reply College gave Optis a slight scare as they reached 195 for nine off their 45 overs.

Coming in at six after a few cheap wickets fell, captain Ben Ferbrache hit 53 before Biggins caught him in the deep off the bowling of Hindle.

Down the order Le Hegarat with 35 and Jon Wilkes-Green with 25 ably supported Ferbrache, but their efforts were in vain as the home side ended 31 runs short.

'I was really quite impressed with the College boys,' said Biggins.

'They played really well. They were a very energetic team, full of life and with an excellent team spirit.

'They had a couple of useful seamers and a couple of good spinners and they all batted positively.

'They gave us a good run for our money.'

Meanwhile, Total Cobo scored their first victory this season over Optimists in the Barclays Evening League Division One at the KGV last night.

Set 129 in 22 overs, Cobo captain Stuart Le Prevost and fellow island batsman Matt Oliver got to work as last year's champions won by seven wickets and with two overs spare.

Previously this season Optimists have beaten the west coast side in the Dave Fischer Memorial Trophy, and once apiece in the evening league and the Carey Olsen GCA Champion-ship.

'We were due a win over them,' said Le Prevost. 'It's always nice to beat the best teams and they have proved so far this season that they have been the best team.'

Optis captain, Steve Queripel rued his team not posting a big enough total.

'The score was a bit below par knowing what Matt and Stu can do,' he said.