Oliver guides Cobo home

A TYPICAL Matt Oliver innings saw Total Cobo beat DHS St Pierre last night to keep their hands on the Rozel Shield for another year. The destructive left-handed island opener smashed 77 runs around the KGV from just 47 balls in his side's comprehensive 81-run win. Not bad for someone who damaged tendons in his hand during Guernsey's friendly with Jersey at the weekend.

St Pierre never looked like getting near their opponent's 171 total.

'Ollie batted well tonight,' said his captain Stuart Le Prevost.

'It set us a nice platform.

'We lost a few wickets at the end but we kept the scoreboard ticking over.'

Oliver's innings contained nine fours and a six. He was well supported by opening partner TJ Ozanne with 21 and Le Prevost with 23.

The wheels came off slightly for the batting team when Oliver went in the 17th over, bowled by Justin Meades.

In 20 overs, 171 was gettable for the St Pierre batsmen who helped Mavericks pass Cobo's massive total of 289 in the weekend league a few weeks ago.

'We weren't too complacent after what Meadesy and Justin Walker did in the afternoon league,' said Le Prevost.

But Le Prevost need not have been that worried as St Pierre struggled with Cobo's young and lively bowling attack.

When Kris Moherndl bowled Meades for a duck, the feeling was that his team's chances went with him as he headed back to the pavilion.

Skipper Andy Burkhardt put up some resistance later on with a blustery 17 that contained a flat-batted straight six.

It was never going to be enough, though, as they were dismissed for 90 runs in the 17th over.